Hands across the Globe Newsletter March 2013
Circle of Friends International:Empowered Women Stepping Boldly

Dear Circle of Friends,
A warm greeting to you this March Day! It is always so exciting to welcome Spring with its promise of joys and surprises in the days ahead. I just love the metaphor of the season. I hope that you have been stepping boldly towards the goals you set for this New Year. As for me, I have embedded my actions in themes rather than setting goals. Last year it was simply: Fearless, and this year it is: I am the change I want to see in the world. I am working on embracing a positive outlook towards life, to see the possibilities rather than the obstacles, to celebrate and honor, rather than bewail and criticize. For surely, the glass is half full even as it is half empty.
I want to take the time to say thank you for your friendship and hope that we can continue to work together, dream together, kick up our heels and have fun together. Friendship is indeed the first step towards creating community and we have so much to contribute. As my friends, you know how much I love to communicate, to organize and to celebrate. Circle of Friends has been meeting since 1995 and before that Pam and I had a group called Caribbean Women’s Network in the 1980’s. It was quite successful, however, for some reason we allowed it to falter. I hope you will continue to work with me to keep Circle going strong for as our individual endeavors grow, we provide the opportunity and the support for our friends to blossom as well.
Empowered Women-Stepping Boldly
A special reason to celebrate March is that it is also Women’s History Month. What an opportunity to share our accomplishments and garner support for those to come. As they say in Jamaica, big tings a gwane fi yu baby [great things are happening to you my dear].

Let’s hear a drum roll for:
1. Rosie & DVCAI artists have headed off to Suriname for an International Cultural Exchange and are having a wonderful time there.
2. Christine is preparing for a daylong “interview” with the school board in DC where she is vying for the position of school principal.
3. Marva recently returned from the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates 21st Annual Conference in Baton Rouge where she presented the paper, Roots/Routes to Success: Disrupting the Discourse of Failure in Urban Schools.
4. Bettye-Ann enjoyed the company of her grand-daughter this Christmas wondering why she ever waited this long to become grandma.
5. Pat [Dr. Patricia Grimsley, former principal & district director] is to be honored this month for her outstanding work in education by the Teamster National Black Caucus Group.
6. Yuki is working on a solo exhibition to be launched April 20.
I know each one of you is up to something good. Please do not hesitate to share with me so that I can send it out to the others. Have an empowered week, the rest of it, and look forward to next week with great anticipation of the wonder of what is to come.
Stepping boldly as always,
Your dear friend, Marvalous!