Narrative Evolution

Things done this weekend:

1️⃣ ignore IG and their demand I make videos/reels - you'll keep getting biweekly pictures and deal
🌱 get on down to the plant section for planters so my babies have a new home - pray they make it
👌🏾 find some good light for my 40 Under 40 award

Things done today so far - kick off my third week with training. Details about that coming at a later date. Maybe y'all will get a reel out of me!

It's the cheekbones for me.

Keeping this level of giggles all week and beyond. So happy I've found the work that brings me smiles, even when I'm diving into decks on Sunday night!

Who is with me in deciding that Q4 is nothing but joy?

Photo courtesy of team

It's and also time for me to drop my weekly picture.

You know that's as frequently as I can give!

Enjoy me and my smize and just a hint of makeup with a behind the scenes moment at our recent shoot.

The actual shoot pics tho 👀🔥 soon come, soon come

Talking about the things I love - communication and DEI - tomorrow at 1 p.m. CST with AAF Dallas. Jump on through their livestream on here and be sure to drop a "hello" and any questions/comments!

We’re excited to be in conversation with Veleisa Patton Burrell from Narrative Evolution this week. Join us this Thursday Sept. 10 for our Facebook Live session. 🙌

Welcome, September.

Time for a change in the season. (I'm so ready for a return to cool breezes and rainstorms)

A balance between looking ahead to 2021 and being grounded in what's happening now.

Resting so we don't get exhausted on our journey.

Finding a reason to smile while making room for tears.

And, as always, playing "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire. *Alexa, play my jam*

What does your new month look like?

Stories powered many movements: suffrage, civil rights and others. For Muck Rack, I wrote about how storytelling is at the center of interconnected industries - journalism, public relations, marketing/advertising - and we as professionals have to use stories to keep centering diversity, equity and inclusion in the work we do.

FleishmanHillard
Weber Shandwick
Forbes
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

DEI for media relations: reframing narratives, redefining objectivity and understanding our power in shaping stories Muck Rack recently assembled a power panel of communicators to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for media relations. Here are more of their insights.

I often see people say they can't do yoga because they can't touch their toes. In the same vein, some people think if they can't be still, mentally or physically, for long periods of time then mindfulness and meditation isn't for them.

Not at all!

The practice of being mindful varies, and isn't one size fits all. My meditation won't look like yours, and what you do for a mindful practice today can be different tomorrow.

I'm hosting an Intro to Mindfulness workshop designed for the curious person who wants to find more mental space but isn't sure what that looks like for them. Let's get started, together: http://ow.ly/21Jf50AOEML

If you weren't in the workshop I held last week on creativity and mindfulness with Mastermind Meditate, here is a 💎 you missed:

Practice being bored or mind-wandering. You may be asking, why boredom? Isn't that the opposite of the productivity of creativity?

It's part of the process - Boredom is linked to increased creativity through activation of the Default Mode Network in the brain. When you're not TRYING to achieve a goal, and just take everything in, as it is and in the moment, your mind shifts.
This week, try turning off the screens and just take everything in. Get outside in nature or spend play time with kids and/or pets. Being bored isn't as bad for you as you think!

This article says it all. And then some.

Opinion | Companies' ads say Black Lives Matter. So why are ad agencies nearly all white? The stunning lack of diversity in the advertising industry goes back decades and those in power have done little to change it. It's time for action.

Me, looking at you and wondering when you're gonna sign up for my next workshop. Right now, that's the answer.

When is it, you ask?

July 29, at 7 p.m.

"Creativity Through Mindfulness"
Research by LinkedIn shows that creativity is the most-wanted soft skill of 2020. But creativity goes beyond the arts, especially if you can't draw a straight line. The ability to innovatively and uniquely approach our daily life and challenges comes from our ability to creatively engage with our thoughts and the world around us. Creativity helps us solve problems and adapt to novel situations.

Many of the conversations I've had about diversity, equity and inclusion are the result of the work I've done with Kanarys. You can read more: https://www.blog.kanarys.com/author/veleisa-burrell/, https://medium.com/.

If your company needs to hone their voice and communicate a unique perspective, Narrative Evolution can help you build a sustainable and authentic strategy.

Kanarys Inc. – Medium Read writing from Kanarys Inc. on Medium. Kanarys Inc. is a Dallas-based technology company that aims to foster collaboration between companies and employees on diversity, equity and inclusion.

As recognition of Juneteenth continues to grow, I offered advice to my fellow PR professionals about how to do it meaningfully without stumbling.

One addition I'd make to my own writing - learn about the 13th amendment. The Proclamation didn't free ALL slaves. I'm already seeing some social media accounts getting dragged for claiming Juneteenth is the day that all slaves were freed.

How PR can meaningfully celebrate Juneteenth As we celebrate Juneteenth, it’s helpful for PR pros to think through how to recognize the holiday meaningfully, and without stumbling, in an attempt to be part of the larger conversation on equality.