For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kendall Hayes
www.hertoday.org
267-591-2009
www.thewomenssoloproject.org


New Philadelphia Non-Profit Hosts 1st Annual Gala
A Day of Peace will raise money to benefit domestic violence prevention

Philadelphia, PA - October, 2011 - The Women's Solo Project Inc., a newly formed 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, .will host their 1st annual fundraiser. The Day of Peace Gala will be held on November 11, 2011 at the Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19131. This major fundraising effort will benefit domestic violence prevention and self-sufficiency workshops that focus on education, employment, and parenting. The Women's Solo Project has already assisted over 50 women by inspiring the confidence necessary to recognize their capacity for self-reliance while helping them gain the independence needed to get out of an abusive relationship.

"Domestic violence has a stong presence and is alive in our communities. We must come together as unified people to help stop and control it. By creating The Women's Solo Project, I wanted to bring this issue to the forefront and get people talking about it. If we continue to let this issue be taboo, then nothing will get done." says Tyra Wright-Johnson, President and survivor. The organization's mission and vision stems from Mrs. Wright-Johnson's personal.experience with domestic violence.

For tickets and additional information, visit the website at www.thewomenssoloproject.org.


About The Women's Solo Project
Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, The Women's Solo Project, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, was established in 2010 with the mission to serve women and their children by giving them the ability to become independent and resourceful in making healthy and positive decisions. TWSP specializes in empowering women and children and teaching victims how to live free of violence and poverty.

The truth about Soy.

It's good to know...
Two reasons not to eat veggie burgers



I love veggie burgers as much as the next guy does. But I'm careful which kind I choose. I always read the labels on the box. And I won't buy it if it contains soy protein. Look for ones that contain grains and beans instead.

Why is soy so bad?

95 percent of the soybeans grown in America are genetically modified. And remember, food makers aren't required to tell you their veggie burgers contain GM soy. So you've probably eaten this franken-food without even knowing it.

You find GM soy in lots of other products too, not just in veggie burgers. Food makers add it to processed foods to up the protein content. But they know you don't want it. So they hide the soy by calling it different things.

When buying a veggie burger, watch out for:
Mono-diglyceride
Soya, Soja or Yuba
TSF (textured soy flour) or TSP (textured soy protein)
TVP (textured vegetable protein)
Lecithin
Besides the genetic tinkering, GM soy has been linked to hormonal disruptions, libido problems, thyroid dysfunction, and even accelerated brain aging.

You may wonder why everybody thinks soy is so good for you when most of the time it isn't. Here's why...

One type of soy is good for you. It's called fermented soy. You find it in foods like tempeh, miso, natto, and traditionally-made soy sauce. But food manufacturers know you're confused. They make a lot of money selling "soy milk" because they know most consumers don't know any better.

Now you know the difference.

Don't forget to check your breasts!

Whew!

I checked my breasts this month and felt a bump. Very scary. I just had my annual mammogram in June and it was good. No indications of breast cancer. So when I felt this bump, yes I was afraid. Breast cancer runs in my family...My mom, her sister, my great aunt and now my mother's first cousin...all had breast cancer. My mom and great aung didn't have to have kemo, after their masectomies, but my aunt and cousin did.

Anyway, my bump was just that, a bump/pimple and not a lump. Thank GOD! But it got me thinking...was the mammogram an effective method of detection?

I've been hearing alot about a new method of detection...Thermography. Some advocate this method as an alternative to the mammogram, but most advise its use in addition to the mammogram.

Here are some sites for you to review:

http://www.breastthermography.com/mammography_thermography.htm

http://www.iact-org.org/patients/breastthermography/mammography-vs-therm.html

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/February07/grandmother.htm

The difference between a Press Release and a Media Advisory

While both are used to gain media attention a free publicity to an event, there is a difference.

A Press Release provides more detailed information and is sent in the hopes of getting your information to appear in print.

A Media Advisory should be more condensed, using the Who, What, When, Where and Why idealogy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kendall Hayes
267-591-2009
kendall@hertodayorg

HER collaborates with the Northwest EPIC Stakeholders
to hosts FREE workshops for teen-aged Girls
Engaging girls in conflct resolution and preparation for 100 book challenge


Philadelphia, Pa - October, 2011 On Saturday, November 12, 2011, young ladies ages 12-15 are invited to participate in a FREE workshop designed to help them learn to take effective notes in class and how to develop effective study habits. They will also learn the importance of eating a balanced diet and learn conflict resolution techniques.

HER board member, Adriene Berry, stated "We've found that this particular age group needs to be targeted and equipped with these essential life skills." I have a 12 year old daughter myself and see that her and her peers need to learn how to study effectively and how to resolve conflict BEFORE it escalates."

Recently laid off from the Philadelphia School District, HER's founder, Kendall Hayes decided to use her time working in the community. While employed as a Student Advisor at the High School level, she learned that if the students were better prepared in these areas, they would excel in High School and beyond. She had been active with the Northwest EPIC Stakholder group for the past 5 years and felt that a collaboration with them was a perfect fit.

"The staff at Lonnie Young Recreation Center was happy to allow us to use their facility" Ms. Hayes stated. "They too feel the need for this particular age group to be engaged in these and other positive activities".

"When looking for workshop facilitators, we wanted young women who were closer in age to the girls, so that there wouldn't be such a wide generation gap. So I looked to my oldest daughter, Portia Fullard and her colleagues. They were more than happy to volunteer their time and expertise."

Northwest EPIC Stakeholder Coordinator, Nan Rhone is excited about this collaborative project. "Part of our mission is to develop and implement action plans that complement and enhance the community's assets. This project fits perfectly.

The workshop is free and will be held from 1:30pm - 4:00pm at THE LONNIE YOUNG RECREATION CENTER 1100 E. Chelten Ave.

You can register by calling KENDALL HAYES @ 267-591-2009 or by email to kendall@hertoday.org.


About HER: Founded in 2011, HER is an organization of women, successful women who have struggled with life's challenges and have found fulfillment through mentoring. They share their experiences and motivate other. In doing so, they aid in their own individual healing, empowering and restorationprocess.

About the EPIC Stakeholders: Community EPIC Stakeholder Groups are made up of individuals who live and/or work in a community and are actively involved in the continued development of that community including eradicating challenges to school attendance and performance. Recognizing that truancy is generally a symptom of other problems occurring for the family such as of poverty, lack of family cohesion, child abuse/neglect, community violence and/or behavioral and physical health problems, stakeholder groups are committed to addressing challenges facing the community.

There are ten stakeholder groups located throughout Philadelphia. They meet monthly, working to develop and implement action plans that complement and enhance the community's assets.

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Healed...Empowered...Restored

Someone recently asked me what I had been healed from. They thought I had been sick. So, I told them them that I had been healed from kidney disease. (Which I really have been, according to my doctor). But in reality, when I chose the brand HER...Healed Empowered Restored, I just thought it was catchy, cute, inspirational. I don't even know how I came up with it. I just woke up one day around my 47th birthday and said "I am HER...Healed Empowered and Restored". Now I am looking back at the events of my life (well, the past 7 years) that lead me to my new self.

After experiencing 3 life altering events in one year, my mind shut out 2 of them; the separation and the unemployment. I guess my mind has its own defense mechanism. So, I only dealt with the the sudden loss of my mother. That was the most devastating loss of the 3he. While I was still mourning and grieving this loss, my ex filed for divorce in 2006. I had no desire or strength to deal with that at that time so I said ok and we divorced and he kept everything and I got $10k. Hardly a pittance, but it was done and I could now finish the grief process of losing a parent. So, I did that. But had to go get that divorce stuff off the back burner in 2007 and deal with that. Easier said than done.

I didn't think I was affected so much by the divorce. It was a marriage that should have never happened in the first place. But I stuck it out for 16 years. I was submissive. I went to church, prayed, raised my 3 girls, was a devoted and supportive wife and mother. But something happened when I turned 40. I had become a grown woman and I wasn't taking no more shit. I put my foot down and prayed that he would change and become the husband I deserved. But it didnt happen. I felt that God had forsaken me. Then, come to find out it was all a lie. At this point I became a cocaine addict. Marijuana was no longer enough. I lost every material possession I had and I was still unemployed. I got me a boyfriend who was a dealer so that I could keep getting high. I didn't even like him, but he served a purpose. I still felt betrayed and forsaken by God. I tried counseling twice. The first time was with a female counselor, who, after 30 mintues of me talking had tears streaming down HER face. Then she touched my knee. i guess it was a comforting gesture, but I was not comforted and never went back. Then I went to a male. He immediately wanted to put me on Cymbalta. I refused to be medicated. I didn't think there was any medication that could help me.

By October, 2008, I realized that I had hit MY rock bottom. It was the 3rd anniversary of my mom's death and I was tired of getting high. Suicidal, I went to the ER and was admitted to Belmont, with no medical insurance, but they had resources that allowed me coverage. I faked taking the meds they prescribed (LITHIUM< WTH? Then they tried to assure me it was ok..."it's the same meds Martin Lawrence takes" lmbo) anyway, I wasn't taking that mess.

Now, that's not to say that some people may need their medication. I'm not knocking anybody who takes them and it works for them. I just knew that wasn't what I needed.

I stayed in Belmont for 8 days. Watche the Phillies win the Championship there. Came home. Put distance between me and the boyfriend ( I was still unemployed). Never went to any meetings but stayed clean...for a while.

Where were my family? Friends? Who knows? Who cares? I obviously didnt need any of them. When you look up and all you have is GOD, then guess what? GOD is all you need! I'm a witness! I had like 3 friends who stuck with me thru thick and thin. My children had gone to live with their father and he was now taking me to court for child support. They didn't know what was really happening to me because I always kept on my mask for them. But they're not stupid. They definitely knew I wasn't the same.

On Dec. 8th I started working, making less money than I have EVER made in my ENTIRE life, and had an eviction notice. Oh Yeah, I had also started gambling and often too rent money from boyfriend to casino. Didn't know what I was going to do, but I knew that I was NOT moving with the boyfriend. So I just kept praying..and looking for apartments. On Christmas of that year, I got high.

By February 2009, I had found an apartment on craigslist. I called th young lady and when she told me the location I said never mind. She convinced me that it wasn't that bad and to at least come look at it. Here I am about to be homeless and being choosy. lol Low and behold it is a beautiful apartment! Spacious only one bedroom, but hey, it's only one of me. I got a sofabed in case kids wanted to come spend some time. The young lady wanted to sublet her apartment and move with her significant other to their City Ave. apt. She didn't want a deposit, I just had to pay the monthly rent until her lease was up in July. PRAYER WORKS.

By the time her lease was up, I still didn't have money for deposit, but the landlord let me make an arrangement to pay him a little extra each month!

So, when I say I'm healed, I'm thinking that I'm healed from all the hurt, bitterness and anger that I was experiencing. Healed from the scars of emotional, mental and physical abuse. Healed from not loving me. With no medication.


I've learned to love myself. Flaws and all.

Next to loving Jesus, that's the greatest love of all!

I thought I had begun to be empowered when I got a job. But that's not true. I became empowered when I stopped allowing substances to control my life. I became empowered when I stopped using them as a crutch to hide the pain in hurt I was experiencing. I became empowered when I took my power back and stopped allowing circumstances and people control my actions.

Restoration came only after I surrendered to Jesus. I had to realize that I have absolutely NO control over ANYTHING except my relationship with Him. I couldn't control my hurt, anger, bitterness I had to surrender it to Jesus...AND LEAVE IT WITH HIM. Only then would I begin the restoration process.

This is a daily thing. I have to surrender daily.

Long story short.

Healed...Empowered...and Restored.