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Smita Sharma is an independent photojournalist and visual storyteller whose work questions deep-rooted stereotypes and sheds light on underreported stories. Smita is known for her work on complicated human rights, gender and social issues and for her ability to represent people with dignity.

Smita’s work has been published in various places like The New York Times, BBC World, TIME, Channel 4, CNN, National Geographic Magazine amongst many others. She is a Getty Images grantee and an IWMF Reporting Fellow. Other than her home country India, she has also worked in different countries highlighting sensitive stories.

Smita received the Indian Of The Year award in 2017 and Exceptional Women of Excellence award by Women Economic Forum in 2018. In 2019, she won the One World Media Awards for her film Rebels With a Cause at BAFTA, London. She has exhibited and shown her work globally including the UN Headquarters in New York. Smita is a graduate from the photojournalism and documentary photography program of International Center of Photography, New York and is based in Delhi.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/10/stolen-lives-harrowing-story-of-two-girls-sold-into-sexual-slavery-feature/

To learn more about Smita Sharma:
Twitter & IG: @smitashrm

Today, Tes talks with Chrysula Winegar. Chrysula is Senior Communications Director at the United Nations Foundation, where she leads the New York public affairs team focused on UN system communications liaison and special initiatives. Prior to her current position, she founded Wake Up World Communications, a digital communications agency focused on social action, working with clients including the United Nations Foundation, Fox Searchlight, Malala Fund, EngenderHealth, Family Planning 2020 and many others. Her earlier career was in various marketing and communications roles in the private sector, including Ernst & Young, Estee Lauder Companies and NatWest UK.

To learn more about Chrysula Winegar:
Twitter: @chrysula
IG: @chrysula_w

Today Tes talks with Dr. Eve Krief. Dr. Krief has been practicing general Pediatrics in the town of Huntington for over 22 years. She attended Undergraduate School at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she majored in Comparative Literature. She went on to receive her medical degree from Tel Aviv University. She completed her Pediatric Residency training at Schneider Children’s Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Dr. Krief is on the executive committee of the Long Island-Brooklyn/Queens chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where she serves as Legislative Advocacy chair. She is an outspoken advocate for children and was recognized as the “Woman of Distinction” for Suffolk County’s 18th Legislative District in 2018. She received the American Academy of Pediatrics Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 and a NYS Senate Commendation Award in 2019 for her advocacy work. She is the founder of Long Island Inclusive Communities Against Hate and sits on the steering committee of the Town of Huntington’s Anti Bias Task Force.

Today, Tes talks with Gae Polisner. Gae is the award-winning author of six novels including the multi-award winning THE MEMORY OF THINGS which is used in schools around the country. A family law attorney and mediator by trade, but a writer by calling, Gae lives on Long Island with her husband, two sons, and a suspiciously-fictional-looking small dog she swore she’d never own. She is an avid swimmer and, when not writing, can be found in the open waters of the Long Island Sound. Her next book is forthcoming from Henry Holt in 2022. You may follow her on twitter and Instagram @gaepol, on facebook at gaepolisnerauthor, and find her books wherever books are sold.

Today, Tes talks with Maureen Hitipeuw. Maureen is a Community Leader and Founder of Single Moms Indonesia. With experience in office management for over a decade, a background in public relations, as well as being a former public relations manager, Maureen used her experiences and skills to develop the community she founded. A Facebook Certified Community Manager, she’s one of the first few people who received this certification from Facebook and was involved in creating the program with the Facebook team.

In 2018 she was recognized by Facebook as “One of the 115 most inspiring community leaders in the world”. She was selected to join The Facebook Community Leadership Program, a year-long program where she received knowledge, skills, tools, funding, and support to activate Single Moms Indonesia in new and innovative ways to promote positive and lasting impact.

Single Moms Indonesia was formed in 2014 as a community for single moms in Indonesia to come together and support each other. This closed group provides a safe space for members to share their stories and experiences, as well as learning from various empowerment programs designed to help its members rebuild their lives.

To learn more about Maureen Hitipeuw & Single Moms Indonesia:
Website: https://www.singlemomsindonesia.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.hitipeuw
IG: @maureen.hitipeuw
IG: @singlemomsindonesia

Today Tes talks with Mandy Sanghera. Mandy is an award-winning philanthropist, community consultant and global campaigner, often referred to as a global catalyst from the UK.

She is an international human rights activist and motivational TEDx speaker who travels all over the world, empowering & motivating others. With over three decades of experience, Mandy is an expert in various development-related fields. She has been driving innovation, building strategic partnerships, promoting advocacy & programming in the areas of human rights, gender equality, accountability and social justice globally.

Mandy has helped hundreds of individuals and now reaches thousands through social media, worldwide TV appearances and public speaking engagements. This past November, she spoke at the US House of Representatives for the 3rd year in a row. She recently appeared at the World Economic Forum and supports AI for Social Good. In addition, she was celebrated among public figures such as Jacinda Ardern, Oprah Winfrey, Kamala Harris, as part of the GDL (Global Diversity List) 2020 for her tireless work in diversity and inclusion.

For information on Mandy Sanghera:

Twitter: @Mandy_Sanghera1

YouTube: https://youtu.be/uy0Nhf51J4U

https://www.globaldiversitylist.org/public-life

Maria Mostajo is a lawyer who began her legal career in 1992 as a prosecutor in the Bronx, where she handled street level and violent crime prosecutions. She later worked in the office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, where she worked with state and federal law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting inter-state and large-scaled narcotics traffickers. Maria returned to the Bronx DA’s Office between 2008 -2010 to prosecute elected officials, before becoming inspector general and associate commissioner to the Department of Investigation, NYC’s internal affairs department, where she oversaw waste, mismanagement and corruption investigations involving city employees. She retired in 2017 and now serves on various non-profit boards.

To find out about Her Justice:
www.herjustice.org
@herjustice.nyc

Mae Flores is an award-winning Filipina-American actress turned speaker and advocate. She is well-known for her role in the sci-Fi cult classic, “Atlantis Down” and her philanthropy-focused, independent music show, “Mae Flores Presents.”

Mae fervently advocates for women’s rights and gender equality because she is also a two-time survivor of sexual assault. She has received multiple awards like the UN Global Goals Ambassador Award for her work with Gender Equality and the WNBA Redefine Women Award for her work in the sexual assault advocacy space. In 2017, she spoke on the importance of moving past the trauma of her assaults in a TEDx talk titled, “I’m Still Here”. She is the founder of “Light Me Up”, a program which uses the power of movement, voice and music to show survivors how to use tools that they already have within themselves to find their own paths to healing. Currently she is the producer of various projects that focus on storytelling and healing, like the podcast, “So, Tell Me About Your Dad”.

Follow Mae Flores:
Email: maeflores111@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missmaeflores
IG: @officialmaeflores
Mae Flores’ TEDx Talk, “I’m Still Here”: https://youtu.be/__K65pyMM64
Coming Soon: www.maeflores.com

Today, Tes talks with Radhika Gajulapalli. Radhika was born in India and came to the United States in 1973. She grew up in Flushing, NY and later moved to a suburb on Long Island. She has a bachelor’s in accounting with a minor in Computer Science. After working in the IT industry for over ten years, she left the industry to devote her time and energy with Heart and Hand for the Handicapped, a non-profit organization that supports handicapped children in the United States and India. With her accounting and computer background, she was able to streamline their accounting and fundraising efforts, first as the Treasurer in 2013, before becoming the President of the organization in 2015, and then again in 2020.

To learn about Heart & Hand for the Handicapped, go to: www.hhhonline.org
Facebook: HHH – Heart and Hand for the Handicapped

To contact Radhika Gajulapalli: Twitter-@tweetrgi
Instagram – Rgi85

I hope you enjoyed the first episode of Revolutionary Woman. Upcoming episodes will feature women who have made a difference in their communities by founding and participating in organizations such as Heart & Hand for the Handicapped, Light Me Up project, Her Justice, World Moms Network, Sayfty, the United Nations Foundation and many others.

If you subscribe, you’ll get the latest episode every Thursday. Please hit the like and subscribe button on the podcasting platform of your choice.

Next Thursday, November 12th, my guest is Radhika Gajulapalli, President of Heart & Hand for the Handicapped. Her journey took her from being a professional in an IT department to becoming President of a non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and shelter for severely handicapped children.

Today, Tes talks with Cynthia Changyit Levin.

Cynthia Changyit Levin is an American activist for global health and education. In 2003, she left a career in automotive engineering to become a stay-at-home mom. Her new maternal perspective helped her see difficulties of mothers raising children in poverty more clearly, but added to worries about the future her children would live in. Engaging in advocacy helped her move from feeling helpless about the world’s problems to serving as a board member of a top international advocacy organization and accepting invitations to take part in World Bank meetings and a UN Foundation trip to Africa. For the past 13 years, she has led and coached volunteer advocates with RESULTS, the United Nations Foundation, and CARE.

Levin is a former staff member and board member of RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund, an international anti-poverty advocacy group. In addition to regularly visiting the offices of members of U.S. Congress, she writes opinion pieces for newspapers about issues of poverty and health. She has been published in The New York Times, the Financial Times, and many local newspapers across the United States. She blogs about her experiences in parenting and advocacy in the “Anti-Poverty Mom Blog” and is the author of the upcoming book “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started.”

For more info: www.changyit.com

NOTE: We had a few audio issues on this recording. We’re working out the kinks still!

Tune in November 2, 2020 for the first episode of r(E)volutionary Woman featuring global health and education advocate, Cynthia Changyit Levin