Congratulations to our 2nd Annual Diva Visionary Award winner, Kristina Leonardi!
Heartfelt congratulations to Kristina Leonardi, founder of The Women's Mosaic, a nonprofit dedicated to providing,
"education, inspiration and motivation for women to rise up and rock the world!" Very powerful words from a very powerful Diva Visionary.
And congratulations to YOU, Diva Nation. Without your continued support and participation, we might never have met Kristina and our other finalists.
Our judges faced a mighty challenge as they carefully considered each candidates' merits. Though Kristina ultimately reigns supreme, we strongly believe
that everyone who joined us on our quest for female excellence should jump up and celebrate. Viva Visionary Divas!
Sponsored by: &
Kristina Leonardi, Founder, The Women's Mosaic
Now is the time for women to come together to rise up and rock the world! I have dedicated the last six years of my life to making that statement a reality by founding The Women's Mosaic (www.thewomensmosaic.org), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that educates, inspires and motivates women to express their full potential in all areas of life.
Through providing a variety of unique educational programs, TWM seeks to create positive social change on personal, local and global levels by helping women embrace who they are and what they can do with their lives. Our programs offer relaxed, stimulating, supportive environments that enable women to reach across borders and cultures, allowing them to recognize, refine and reactivate their individual and collective power and place in the world. We’ve offered over 80 unique programs for more than 2000 women to learn more about themselves and the world around them. We have dispelled prejudices and stereotypes of race and religion, and have expanded women’s horizons through a variety of multicultural and personal growth events – from panel discussions to film screenings and ethnic dinners and workshops, thus allowing women to interact and connect with each other in informal yet structured ways and expanding their horizons both locally and globally, and generating awareness about women’s issues both here and abroad.
I have done some extensive travelling in the past, but since starting the organization it has been challenging on all levels to get away anywhere, as I have poured my heart, soul and finances into the organization. I truly believe that uniting and empowering women is the only way to change the world and am sincerely and passionately doing my part to make that happen.
Inbal Sansani wrote:
She gets my vote!
Summer Kriegshauser wrote:
She gets my vote!
Elena Azzoni wrote:
She gets my vote! She's a ROCKSTAR and a genuine, open person who has poured her heart into this project.
Karma Hallmark wrote:
She gets my vote! She rocks!
Susanna Saul wrote:
She gets my vote!
Emmeline Chang wrote:
She gets my vote!
Peggy Finster wrote:
Kristina is a devoted visionary who is committed to working on mulicultural women's issues. She has created an inclusive women's organization that advances diversity and really contributes to New York City. No small accomplishment. She get my vote!
Rob Gilson wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina has tirelessly created, through the Women's Mosaic, venues and vehicles in which women find within themselves, and ultimately share, the feminine mojo this world desperately needs. Congratulations Kristina!
Sally Mercedes wrote:
She gets my vote!
Samarra Mbenga wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina has connected, given advice and inspired me from the very first moment I met her. I now tell every female I know about her organization and mission. Her ideas, hard work, talent and dedication to connecting women is not just an idea-she makes it happen every moment of her day. She's an inspiration!
Magdalena Rybicki wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina has been an inspiration to many - me among them. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award... and as Kristina says, "Chicks Rock!"
Kelly Janes wrote:
TWM has been a tremendous influence in my life, despite my being a member for only six months. Last year, I left my job to persue my dream of becoming an environmental cheerleader. Kristina has supported my goals and given me opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. Thanks, Kristina!
Ann Marie Damashek wrote:
She gets my vote!
Ross Ellis wrote:
She gets my vote! She is a true visionary and deserves this award!!
Mary Nemeth wrote:
She gets my vote!
Moushumi Khan wrote:
She gets my vote! She really deserves this for her initiative and passion for women.
Margaret Behrns wrote:
Love that girl! She has dedicated her many talents to empowering women and deepening cross-cultural understanding. She is fabulous!
Laura Smith wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is inspiring: selfless dedication to a better world through cultural understanding and acceptance and women's unity.
Marcy Melnikoff wrote:
She gets my vote!
I have known Kristina since we were in grade school together. She is a committed, passionate and inspiring woman who is truly dedicated to her organization, The Women's Mosaic. Her desire to bring all women together irrespective of class/race/background, to change the world, is truly laudable.
J. Bristol wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is a dynamic person with great ideas -- she is truly a Diva visionary!
Elke Engelbrechtsen wrote:
Rock on Kristina!
Loli Wescott wrote:
She gets my vote!
Nora Massignotti-cortese wrote:
She gets my vote! She is a noble person and founder of a wonderful organization
Michelle French wrote:
Kristina is an inspiration and a joy to know!
Larie Hwang wrote:
She gets my vote!
Maryanne L wrote:
As a good friend since the first day of college, I am constantly amazed by Kristina's level of dedication to any activity she is involoved in. Her enthusiam is infectious, and I have learned and grown so much from being connected to her.
Victor Escamilla wrote:
She gets my vote! She's awesome! The real deal: Kristina creates the opportunity for people to network and ecourage the free exchange of ideas to help our world a promising future. She develops community in this way, something which is hard to find in our fast-paced world.
Susan Paris wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kate Brett wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina has been an inspiration to me for the dedication and drive she has brought to The Women's Mosaic. She has touched so many women's lives and dedicates every day on this earth to the betterment, empowerment, education, appreciation, and developement of women.
This woman is out to change the world, and plans on getting us all to work together to do it.
I heartily give Kristina my vote!!!
Kekla Magoon wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is an inspiration to me and to the hundreds of women who participate in The Women's Mosaic programs that she provides. I have been with the organization for four years and, through Kristina's leadership, The Women's Mosaic continues to teach me and to connect me with people and ideas that enrich my life. Kristina is a true visionary, and her vision reaches far beyond herself to include women of all backgrounds uniting and working together for a bettter world. We should all aspire to give of ourselves in the way that Kristina does.
Ronni Siegel wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is the most amazing woman I know! I was at the FIRST Women's Mosaic event 6 years ago & have been attending fantastic, fun, informative & eye-opening events ever since. Kristina deserves to be your Diva of the Year - & she needs a vacation big-time since she devotes so much time & energy to The Women's Mosaic!!
Kim Macleod wrote:
Kristina has rocked the world, and is dedicated to the cause of empowering women everywhere! You go, girl!
Noga Kreiman-miller wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina is a true inspiration to women everywhere.
She has all that it takes to be an outstanding leader.
Joanna Lindenbaum wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina rocks the house!
Teresa Bulit wrote:
She gets my vote!
Michele Lambrech wrote:
She gets my vote! The immense dedication that Kristina has brought to The Women's Mosaic has inspired hundreds of women to explore and nurture their own truest passions. Her organization has provided a rich variety of creative opportunities for women to interact with each other and learn more about different topics that affect us all. The long-lasting and far-reaching positive impact of more and more women growing into their own potentials knows no limits. I'm honored and blessed to call Kristina my friend for 25+ years...congrats to her on being a finalist!
Paige Macleod wrote:
She gets my vote!
Juanita Leonardi wrote:
She gets my vote!
John Narlis wrote:
She gets my vote!
Emma Kohn wrote:
She gets my vote!
Millie Fahn wrote:
She gets my vote!Kristina is such a fine young woman and truly an inspirational force in the community....I cant say enough to sing her praises
Caitlin Fitzgordon wrote:
She gets my vote! Go Kristina. You rock!
Lilith Dove wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is an outstanding indiviudal who is working very hard to bring unity through diversity to women from all cultures.
Zahra Jamshed wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina is an inspiration for women worldwide. Having attended several women mosaic's events, I can vouch for her contagious enthusiasm, desire to make a change, and bring women of different cultures together. We are living in a different world after 9/11 and Kristina's passion to bring women of different cultures and religions together to learn from each other is a very noble gesture. It also shows the desire to learn from each other. I strongly recommend Kristina for this award.
Hannah Ashmore wrote:
She gets my vote!
Nancy Hoffmann wrote:
Kristina has done more to empower women in a fun way than almost anyone else in NYC. She inspires and entertains, while getting her message across. The Women's Mosaic is a powerful networking group, bringing together fantastic women who may just manage to change the world for the better. She definitely gets my vote!
Dawn Copeland wrote:
She gets my vote!
Janet Spittler wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina 's passion is The Womens Mosaic. A much needed organization attracting innovative hearts that inspire women to Listen, Create, Collaborate with others to weave a tapestry of many colors and textures in a natural, supportive and nurturing environment for connection and enhancement of the planet.
Kristen Tucker wrote:
Kristina rocks - she is very devoted to TWM and an inspiration to us all. She gets my vote!
Xaira Pagan wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is very inspiring and has founded a wonderful organization. She is a true diva!
Don Wheat wrote:
I've known Kristina for close to 10 years, she never ceases to amaze me with the benevolent and compassionate aura that she always radiates. Her toils are many, and so are the people whose lives she has touched in a positive way. She gets my vote!
Rachel Zaffrann wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is truly a motivational and energeitic person. Seeing a need, she started her own charity to bring together women of different cultures Through Women's Mosaic events I have had some unique experiences. Kristina truly deserves this honor.
Patti Binder wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina has worked tirelessly to create a community of women in New York City who support each other, learn from each other, and challenge each other to create better lives for our selves and our world. Good luck Kristina!
Rosarie Ledesma wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kevin Powderly wrote:
She gets my vote!
Jenny Parra wrote:
She gets my vote!
What an ispiration. In celebrating and empowering women Kristina remind me of the courageous and influential women of the past who change twentieh-century America.
Alene Archer wrote:
She gets my vote!
John Cabezas wrote:
She gets my vote!
She's the best!
Ana Djordjevic wrote:
She gets my vote!
Danielle Cyr wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristini is a terrific woman who supports other women (and woman of all ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds). She's also a terrific human being. You should pick her!
Nikki Robles wrote:
She gets my vote! because we as women need the support and education we get from her organization. She is doing a great job for us all so we can contribute to making this a better world to live in.
Heather Floyd wrote:
She gets my vote!
Mary Ann Mcsweeney wrote:
She gets my vote!
Sharr Prohaska wrote:
She gets my vote! An amazing woman dedicated to making the world a better place to live through cross cultural understanding. She is also a college educator of undergraduate students-teaching and reaching them during their formidable years and letting them know they can make a difference.
Sarah Chase wrote:
Kristina is amazingly strong and gentle at the same time. Having such qualities has enabled her to both support and relate with so many women. A true Diva in our time!
Pinar Ozturk Gokcedag wrote:
Kristina is an amazing woman. She was one of my teachers at NYU. From the first moment I met her, I knew that she is such an energetic, spiritual and loving person. Our world definitely needs people like her. She founded TWM and she connected women from all around the world. She really deserves this award. She gets my vote!
Johanna Stamps wrote:
She gets my vote!
Congratulations on the nomination. You are a true visionary!
Paige Panzner-kozek wrote:
Kristina absolutely gets my vote! She is an inspiration and rock to many and deserves the recognition and relaxation the Diva Visionary Award prescribes. She doesn't help a select group of women - she helps ALL women by buiding communities domestically and abroad and empowering their visions. We need more open-minded leaders like Kristina in the world. Give her this award - she will return stronger and empowered to expand her reach, while ready to take her organization to the next and needed level!
Beatrice Weiss wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina is a caring, dedicated and wonderful role model for all of us.
Tina Robinson wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is a true visionary and focused on her dreams. The Woman's Mosaic came about with her commtment and dedication to ALL women of the world!
Jenni Peterson wrote:
She gets my vote!
Miki Motegi-hall wrote:
She gets my vote! She is powerful and inspiring.
Rory Kugler wrote:
She gets my vote!
I can't think of a more worthy recipient!
Michael Rowinski wrote:
She gets my vote! Keeo up the good work!
Dana Lapidus wrote:
She gets my vote!
Susan Wolff wrote:
She gets my vote! One terrific woman who inspires many!
Lynne Wu wrote:
She gets my vote!
Elizabeth Webb wrote:
She sooo gets my vote!
Cristin Lentlie wrote:
She gets my vote! GO SHIRL!
Patricia Oliviero wrote:
She gets my vote!
Beth Fichtel wrote:
She gets my vote!
Lindsey Pollak wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is an inspiration!
Jenny Lambrech wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina is very inspirational to me. So deticated to what she does and has made a difference in many people's lives. She doe's rock the world!!
Chris Leonardi wrote:
She gets my vote! Go WeEn!
Jennifer Spence wrote:
She gets my vote!
Lucille Lambrech wrote:
I have known Kristina since she was 11 years old as a freind of my daughter. She is truly an inspiration. I am amazed at what she has accomplished with this project. She shines in a field of stars.
Jack Lee wrote:
She gets my vote!
John Travis wrote:
She gets my vote! I've known Kristina, and think she is deserving.
Kelly Finn wrote:
She gets my vote!
Sandra Lespinasse wrote:
She gets my vote!
Lauryn Bianco wrote:
Kristina was a fabulous boss with patience, drive and an enormous vision!
Joseph Almeida wrote:
She gets my vote!
Stacey Gandler wrote:
She gets my vote!
Laura Marcario wrote:
She gets my vote!
Madeline Mayfield wrote:
She gets my vote!
Eyal Barnea wrote:
She gets my vote!
Linda Oconnor wrote:
Kristina and The Women's Mosaic in NYC empower and inspire women through innovative programs. She has great ideas and provides supportive leadership, facilitating female friendship and learning in a multicultural environment. Most of all, she makes it fun! Linda O'Connor
Eileen Gallagher wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina deserves this award for all her work and passion in founding and coordinating The Women's Mosaic.
Rebekah Johnson wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina has really given everything to TWM, a wonderful organization that has empowered many women and brought women from all walks of life together.
Joshua Lefkowitz wrote:
She gets a well-deserved vote from me! Kristina's dedication and envision has had an incredible impact on the NYC community.
Alan Siege wrote:
She gets my vote! I know Kristina personally and am very familiar with the organization she founded. She more than qualifies for the award!!!!!
Anna Marie Parasole wrote:
She gets my vote!
Stephanie Bok wrote:
She gets my vote!
Bonnie Flaherty wrote:
She gets my vote!
Laura Delp wrote:
She gets my vote!
Colleen Cronin wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is a hard working and dedicated woman who makes women feel great about themselves!
Regine Lambrech wrote:
She gets my vote for sure! Kristina has shown an incredible amount of dedication in getting this project off the ground. She is a tireless defender of women and continues to seek ways to allow them to achieve their potential.
Alan Rivera wrote:
She gets my vote!
Carol Tanjutco wrote:
She gets my vote!
Sylvia Saracino wrote:
Cool idea!
Patrick Pierce wrote:
Kristina gets my vote for all kinds of reasons. She embodies Diva-ness and is an inspiration to all of us divas-in-training. She endures with calm compassion her brother calling her "Ween" even as he casts his diva vote. Most importantly, she is a visionary. Her innovative work, founding and working tirelessly with the Women's Mosaic, has created a venue for women - those who see that improving the world and improving themslelves are intrinsically connected - to come together for support and for working towards those goals. And she dances a MEAN salsa, which, if it is not a Diva Visionary requirement, should be.
Ginger Norwood wrote:
She gets my vote!
Faye Leone wrote:
She gets my vote!
Barry Seidel wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is quite an extraordinary young woman. Her dedication to the Woman's Mosaic gives new meaning to the word commitment.
Tyrell Haberkorn wrote:
She gets my vote!
Mark Pierce wrote:
She gets my vote!
Keith Starr wrote:
She gets my vote! She is wonderful
Wendy Lambrech wrote:
She gets my vote!
Corinne Renguette wrote:
What an inspiring diva. We all have a lot to learn from her. She gets my vote!
Liz Tydeman wrote:
She gets my vote!
Suma Mcgourty wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kerry Abdallah wrote:
She gets my vote!
Joe Smith wrote:
She gets my vote!
Hacer Cinar wrote:
She gets my vote!
Glenda Rienecker wrote:
She gets my vote!
Stephanie Rigberg wrote:
Kristina rocks!
Annemarie Segaric wrote:
She gets my vote!
Nadine Slowik wrote:
Go Kristina!
Jeri Quinn wrote:
She gets my vote! I am so much in favor of women making an impact in the world. We have so much constructive and creative energy to financially, politically, socially, environmentally, and itellectually do a paradigm shift, that men should just move aside and let us take charge for a better world. A little extreme but Kristena has given us one more vehicle. She earns my respect and my vote.
Alisa Vitti wrote:
She gets my vote!
kristina is an inspiration and amazing
she absolutely deserves Amansala's special retreat focused on women as she has dedicated her career to serving women from all different ethnic backgrounds!
how perfectly matched!
-alisa
Katie Embree wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina is such a wonderful person and the organization is a perfect reflection of who she is.
Miriam Gonzalez Lujan wrote:
I met briefly Kristina recently and just by talking to her you realize that she really cares about women and put her individed attention to he woman in fron of her at the moment. Cheers K.
She gets my vote!
Helynn Boughner wrote:
She gets my vote! She is an inspiration to us all!
Sharon Ascher wrote:
She gets my vote!
She has an inner light and manifests it with her good listening and knows to be a high voltage conduit.
Lisa Pickel wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is passionate, committed, visionary and real!!
Sharon Feuer wrote:
She gets my vote!
Robert Lambrech wrote:
She gets my vote!
Lauraine Scheuerman wrote:
She gets my vote!
Brian Harte wrote:
She gets my vote! The world needs more people like you.
Ngozi Okaro wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kitty Loving wrote:
She gets my vote because she has continually worked to bring women of different cultures together for fun, educational and empowering cross cultural learning experiences. Her organization Women's Mosaic is the embodiement of her vision which is a positive one that can change the world.
Lisa Zaslow wrote:
Kristina is an amazing woman! She and The Women's Mosaic are doing wonderful work.
Kristin Burks wrote:
She gets my vote!
Elisa Balabram wrote:
She gets my vote!
Laura Allen wrote:
The Women's Mosaic is an AMAZING organization dedicated to empowering ALL women and Kristina is an inspirational leader! Send me a postcard from your vacation! :) laura
Joanne Morton wrote:
She gets my vote!
Jan Siegel wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina's our gal & deserves the highest praises. Send her on a trip, she needs it!
Scott Damashek wrote:
She gets my vote!
Maryna Harrison wrote:
She gets my vote!
Melanie Mcevoy wrote:
Kristina is an amazing inspiration to women in NYC and all over the world. She brings together such a diverse group of women for her programs and events and inspires all who meet her to be their best always. She gets my vote!
Yvonne Mejias wrote:
She gets my vote!
Melanie Fallon wrote:
She has NO FLAWS.
Veronika Shiroka wrote:
She gets my vote!
Wileydi Peguero wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina is a super star!
Karineh Gurjian-angelo wrote:
She gets my vote!
Sara Gori wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina inspires women from all walks of life !
Sally Sullivan wrote:
Wonderful organization run by an amazing person. She gets my vote!
David Leonardi wrote:
She gets my vote!
Yvonne Koulouthros wrote:
She gets my vote--totally!! :) Go, Kristina!
Alan Scott wrote:
She gets my vote!
Linda Roberts wrote:
She gets my vote!
Henry Myrthil wrote:
She gets my vote!
Bert Goodstadt wrote:
A remarkable person.
She's got my vote.
David Lieberman wrote:
She gets my vote!
Christina Quintero wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina's dedication and enthusiasm is wonderful and her vision of both the Women's Mosaic and the world in general is an amazing insipiration.
Jennifer Vanden Bosch wrote:
She gets my vote!
Ed Quagliariello wrote:
She gets my vote!
Adam Raben wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina is an inspiration to us all.
Anita Madigan wrote:
She gets my vote! Way to go Kristina!!!
Fred Goldberger wrote:
She gets my vote!
Frederika Ebel wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina has worked tirelessly to promote her organization which educates,informs, and inspires women. There is no other organization that I know of that promotes the positive contributions of women and also elevates the selr esteem and confidence to aspire to more accomplishments
Kathy Laurenhue wrote:
She gets my vote!
Temo Rivera wrote:
She gets my vote! She is the best!
Tanya Wood wrote:
She gets my vote!
Maria Sacks wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kristina's creativity, vision and work in supporting women's businesses and issues is outstanding. I'm proud to be a member of The Women's Mosaic, with Kristina, the founder, as a source of inspiration. We are fortunate to have Kristina share her expertise with us all.
Mary Greenawalt wrote:
She gets my vote!
Rebecca Cathcart wrote:
She gets my vote because she is not only a visionary, but also an empathetic and able practitioner of her vision. She believes in the creatice and collective power of women, so she devotes her time to facilitating just that. The Women's Mosaic provides a safe space in which women meet, speak, and learn. What a great lady!
Carol Passalacqua wrote:
She gets my vote!
Herlin Pierre wrote:
She gets my vote!
Greg Passalacqua wrote:
She gets my vote!
Amelia Andreallo wrote:
She gets my vote!
Cathy Cantley wrote:
She gets my vote!
Alberto Andreallo wrote:
She gets my vote!
Leann Swhartz wrote:
She gets my vote!
Ed Marshall wrote:
She gets my vote!
Laura Mckean wrote:
She gets my vote!
Joel Alpers wrote:
She gets my vote! She is a tireless worker and inspiring soul.
Melissa Fahn wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina has a deep and inspiring vision that touches all those she comes in contact with.
I am so proud of her and of the work she has done to create such a meaningful organization....and so proud of our friendship of over 30 years!
Joan Deangelis wrote:
She gets my vote!
Elizabeth Stoll wrote:
She gets my vote! Kristina has worked so hard and put so much of herself into the Women's Mosaic. She really makes a difference in the lives of those people around her.
Scott Hoberg wrote:
She gets my vote!
Jessica Grotfeldt wrote:
She gets my vote!
Johali Peeck wrote:
She gets my vote!
Kathryn Leonardi wrote:
She gets my vote!
Jc Parker wrote:
She gets my vote!
Elaine Hamnett wrote:
She gets my vote!
Paulette Graf wrote:
She gets my vote due to her dedicated vision and energy in her work to further The Women's Mosaic!
Annette Nichols wrote:
She gets my vote!
Ezgi Sorman wrote:
She gets my vote and my full support! Kristina's vision is much needed in today's world!
Marjorie Horne wrote:
She gets my vote!
Barbara Peterson wrote:
She gets my vote!
Tawana Howard wrote:
She gets my vote!
Mariana Suarez wrote:
She gets my vote!
Jane Lee wrote:
She gets my vote!
Cinna Vesterberg wrote:
She gets my vote!
Vicki Macnaughton-jones wrote:
She gets my vote! A wonderfully active, vibrant woman. Totally deserving any reward.
Mara Leonardi wrote:
Kristina thinks of others first; herself last. She gets my vote.
Sharon Joseph wrote:
Kristina is a visionary and inspiring leader.
Gregory Spence wrote:
She gets my vote!
Ira Seinfeld wrote:
Kristina works hard at bringing out the best in others.
Dana Skallman wrote:
She gets my vote!
Johnny Davila wrote:
Hello Mexico! She gets my vote!
Ena Escalli wrote:
She gets my vote!
Jennifer Gonzalez wrote:
She gets my vote! Meeting this extraordinary woman has change my life in the most beautiful way. And that's how you change the world one person at a time...Thank you Kristina.
Sandra Robinson-clouden wrote:
She gets my vote! It is such a pleasure working alongside of her, she is a true leader and teacher.
Nathasha Alvarez is the perfect person for your diva contest. Her friends call her the little Latina Diva on Wheels! She is a bit over 3 feet tall and uses a manual wheelchair due to her disability. Nathasha was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, brittle bone disease and has had several operations and literally over one hundred fractures before the age of 12. Now at the age of 36, she is a reading and language arts middle school teacher, a consultant for a paratransit company that transports people with physical disabilities and an advocate for the physically disabled.
Recently, she has been very outspoken with the media and the school board about the poor salaries for Miami Dade Public School teachers who are now leaving the cities for better paying jobs.
As if that is not enough, she started her own business four years ago and runs her own non profit company, World Wide Ability, Inc. the parent company to audacitymagazine.com, an online lifestyle magazine for people with physical disabilities. The magazine covers international issues from politics, sex, fashion, and social issues that interest people with physical disabilities.
She recently earned an award for being one of Miami’s savviest singles and her award winning magazine has earned her kudos from the Miami Herald and has been described as the “cosmo for the extraordinary person”.
Her current favorite saying is “Do or Do Not, there is no try” by Yoda! Another short but adorable creature from Star Wars!
Luce Bealieu walked away from the high-powered corporate design world and has never looked back. A Montreal-based graphic designer and strategist, Luce aggressively reinforces her vision for a 100% sustainable world -- both in form and function -- and particularly as it relates to the advertising, fashion and design industries.
In 2004, Luce launched Article, under which she works as a design consultant and develops her line of eco-design products. In 2006 she launched Posch, a line of chic shopping bags crafted from discarded bedsheets. And more recently, Luce has brought out a hot line of I love Kyoto T-shirts hewn from recycled thrift store T-shirts. Both products have been recognized for their innovation and zero impact philosophy.
Via her blog: http://blog.articlestudio.ca/, Luce actively posts on the latest news and events relating to eco design, fashion and sustainability. Her blog now draws more than 3,000 visits each week and is growing steadily. Luce is one to watch for 2007... a one-woman powerhouse working to minimize our impact on the planet.
Barbara Bender Breck, Episcopal Priest. Mom & Daughter
Barbara Bender Breck:a widow, a daughter's Mom, a caregiver to an elderly ailing Mom and an extremely caring soul for many children and adults in the San Francisco Bay Area communities. Beginning her working career as a corporate lawyer and realizing that she was giving out way too much advise for the fees that the law firm was charging, B3 (as we call her) listened to her calling, and departed law to become an ordained Priest in 1993.
This voracious believer in giving back to the community is the Pastor at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Fremont, CA, and amazingly finds time for unending organizations that benefit and highlight women and children, within the church world and outside. She serves as Chaplain for the National Episcopal Women's History Project which recognizes the work of women, lay or ordained, and serves to preserve their stories of love and not being loved in a church wehre women were not always honored,in hopes of saving history for future generations.
As a consultant and trainer for "Safeguarding God's Children" B3 volunteers abundantly with Faith Formation Education formulated for children and adults - anything or anywhere that helps and strengthens women and children, B3 will be present. And with a few hours left in her week, she serves on a Multi-Ethnic Commission chairing the Anti-Racism Commission for the Diocese of California. And she still has time to help women in more ways as a travel fashion consultant for "Weekenders". This is where she preaches (without a pulpit!) that opening doors for other women enables them to learn financial stability, independence, a career, self-esteem and to realize they can have a better life for themselves.
I proudly nominate my friend Barbara Bender Breck for Visionary Award 2007.
Michelle inspires me with the simplest of actions. A newlywed who moved to Alaska (thousands of miles away from all friends and family), Michelle soon found herself in a military community, expecting her first child, with a husband in Iraq. Embracing her new “Alaskan family,” Michelle was writing a weekly column entitled “Until They Come Home,” depicting the everyday life of the homefront heroes (the families of our soldiers), working at the local TV station, being a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and taking on the role of Volunteer Coordinator at her church.
Among all of this, she gave birth to her son, Connor. Michelle inspires me just in the way she leads her life. She constantly looks for ways to help her friends, and to help those she does not even know. She stored personal items for single deployed soldiers. She hosted a “prom” for the local military wives. She has a huge heart and is always ready with an encouraging word for her neighbor, a positive thought, or just some free babysitting! Even when her husband’s deployment was extended, she fought through her emotions, and her weekly column helped the community focus on the positive.
Her commitment to her marriage throughout a very difficult 16 month-deployment is inspirational. Her dedication to keeping connected to her husband, and to building a relationship between her husband and son, lets me know that true love does last a lifetime. If she has touched and inspired my life (thousands of miles away in New York), I know that she has done even more for those around her. Her choice to embrace the positive and bring good to the world is why Michelle is my Diva Visionary.
“Thank you for giving me my life back.” These words grace a thank you card that hangs on a bulletin board next to the desk of this nominee who is far more than a visionary; she is an inspiration whose positive influence permeates the community. I am nominating Mari Garner for the Diva Visionary award. Her infectious spirit and positive energy started with a spark: one boot camp, one park, two instructors. The spark was stoked to a flame that has grown to five boot camps, four parks and over forty instructors. In just sixteen months, she has had 1,177 boot campers that have taken her program. I will let the boot campers tell you how she does it.
• Your "you can do anything you put your mind to" attitude is wonderfully contagious.
• I thank you for taking me where many personal training sessions and countless memberships have NEVER taken me. I can really hold my head up high knowing that I have accomplished so much.
• The program has taught me that you can overcome hurdles and strive to be the best that you can be.
• What I did not expect was that Boot Camp would be so motivating! Knowing that I’ve done something beyond what I thought I was capable has made me feel like a champ! I walk away, and say to myself, “Look what I can do!”. That’s a great feeling. Thank you.
• I physically feel so much better, and I believe that I am thinking more positively, too. Its pretty amazing how one program can be so well-designed that it brings couch-potatos side by side with marathon-class athletes and everyone in between, and we all get so much out of it.
Alice Hiatt is an extraordinary woman. Humanitarian, mountain adventurer, educator and healer, this Visionary is all heart- and soul. Raised in southern California and originally a “surfer chic,” Alice’s early work as an Acupressurist took her around the world on cruise ships. In her career as a Psychiatric Nurse, she saw and implemented the benefits of combining Western and Eastern Medicine long before it was a trend. The mother of two grown sons, Alice divides her time between teaching healing work at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley (where she developed various program curriculum and designed eight courses) and running her own NGO, Hope Through Opportunity, which benefits the Tanzanian village that has welcomed her as a sister, advisor and Medicine Woman. An avid mountaineer, Alice uses her expeditions as fundraisers to buy medicines, food and supplies for her village as well as hundreds of African orphans. For fifteen years she has also made an annual pilgrimage to New Orleans for their Jazz Fest and considers the music so strong as to be “a rite of passage.” When Hurricane Katrina hit, Alice organized another fundraiser to help friends of hers there who had been of such great support to her over the years. Michael Reed Gach, friend and founder of the Acupressure Institute has said that she works and lives in, “the spirit of celebration in the form of healing and renewal… always challenging both herself and others.” Having traveled to 112 countries, Alice plans to summit the world’s seven highest peaks on all seven continents. In preparing for her first, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Alice walked across England the previous year. Currently she is being called to Mt. Everest and also has a trip planned for horseback riding across Mongolia in the summer of 2008.
Janet Lane is a truly giving and caring person. I first met her when she joined the board of the Davis Community Meals organization that provides meals, housing, and services to the homeless and needy people of Davis, California and surrounding areas. I have since had the pleasure of getting to know her better when we have served together as volunteers at the Cold Weather Shelter. Janet truly wants to help others and puts their best interests first. When faced with a decision, Janet tries to gather information and then decide, not just based on cold, hard facts . . . but with a compassionate appreciation of how all affected parties will feel. She is always kind and diplomatic whether she is talking to the president of the board of directors or to an inebriated homeless person. She is truly generous with her time and her money. When she sees deficiencies in food or drinks, or even larger items, like appliances, at the shelter, she is always willing to either buy them herself, or help chip in for them. And, she doesn’t skimp on quality. For instance, when there was no milk, she got organic milk produced in a local dairy and sold in a reusable glass bottle with a hefty deposit. Though I only get to see a few glimpses of how else she helps people, I know that she devotes a great deal of time to her students (often in an ESL program) and her parish. And she also volunteers regularly at a thrift store that benefits a local charity. Janet never brags so I’m sure that this brief paragraph only begins to scrape the surface of her contributions to society
Katherine Leatherman, General Manager/Acting Executive Director
Kathy Leatherman has worked in our facility for over 25 years. She began as a clerk, moving up into accounting, and then eventually covering every aspect of our office and currently has become the Acting Executive Director for a Waste Water Treatment Plant in Monmouth County, NJ. Since starting her position she managed to find time to get married to a wonderful man, help raise step-children as well as grandchildren while having her own 2 beautiful daughters. Kathy has also taught in her church Sunday School as well as volunteer in church. I myself have been in her employ for almost 5 years. Not only is she a very professional supervisor but a true friend to all of us, we would all perhaps refer to her as our sister. She is the most supportive person I have ever met, through all the trials and tribulations of life outside of our office as well as her constant help in the office. I myself, along with all of us here would do anything for Kathy Leatherman because of the kindest that she exudes perpetually. Kathy Leatherman is a one-of-a-kind 'DIVA VISIONARY.'
Jane Leu has dedicated her career to helping immigrant and refugee professionals get back into the careers they had before they came to the U.S. Six years ago she started Upwardly Global in our kitchen and she now has a staff of 13 on both coasts dedicated to making a lasting and meaningful social impact. Jane is a visionary because she is also persuading Fortune 1000 companies to reconsider how they recruit, interivew and retain diverse candidates. Jane isn't satisfied with finding jobs for a few hundred people - her goal is systemic change and she won't stop until she gets there.
Starting and managing a non profit organization is hard work and Jane could use a vacation.
If a Diva is someone conceited or driven by a sense of entitlement, then Jane is not a Diva. If, on the other hand, a Diva is someone who has strong opinions, a strong will, and is ready to "shake things up", then you won't find a more visionary diva than my wife, Jane Leu.
Janelle Lin, Nonprofit Executive/Managing Director
Janelle is the ultimate diva visionary. In college, Janelle mentored a Nigerian orphan living in South Central L.A. She took this girl under her wing, helping her to instill self confidence and willpower. Seven years later, her mentee is in college, inspiring other women with her story. Since that experience, Janelle has made it her mission to empower young people and give them access to opportunity. To that end, Janelle has held a myriad of positions to further her impact on the community, including working for the Mayor of Los Angeles, serving as Director of LA’s BEST (the nation’s leading afterschool program), and serving as a prestigious Coro Fellow. I met Janelle at Harvard Business School, when she was one of the few MBA’s who came to school with noble pursuits – to gain the management expertise that would make her an amazing nonprofit leader and inspire her fellow MBA’s through philanthropy. At Harvard, she served as President of the Social Enterprise Cluband founded the HBS Board Fellows Program to train MBA’s to serve on nonprofit boards. Today, Janelle serves as Managing Director of Step Up Women's Network (www.stepupwomensnetwork.org), a national nonprofit membership organization that empowers women and girls. She serves as a role model for the 30,000 female supporters, creating innovative afterschool programs for teen girls in Harlem and the Bronx (health & wellbeing programs, arts, and career development). Janelle is also an inspiration to her friends as a model of work-life balance. In her spare time, Janelle is a certified yoga teacher, an artist, and a phenomenal dancer. I think you can tell how much I love Janelle and how grateful I am to have her in my life.
My mother is the most selfless person I know. She would sacrifice everything for her children. She hasn't taken a nice vacation in 15 years. She goes camping with her friend and their dogs every summer, but can’t afford more than that. Two kids are financially unstable and can barely make the rent, and my brother and I live with her because we can't afford to move out. She is constantly lending money that she can't afford to give just so her two kids can keep their heads above water. She gives herself no luxuries in life. She only provides the bare essentials so she can give her kids everything they might need. I have tried numerous times to help pay for a nice vacation, but she outright refuses. She doesn't want to burden her kids with her financial troubles, but I know they are there. I would love to give her this vacation because she deserves this. Don't think I didn't consider nominating myself. I would love a vacation from my stressful life. But I was thinking about who really deserves a vacation from their everyday lives and I immediately thought of her. This is something she needs, but would never give to herself. Please give me the opportunity to give her something that she won't allow me to give her. An opportunity to say thank you for everything she has done and sacrificed so her children could live the life she won't allow herself. She deserves to be treated like a diva. She gives so much and deserves to get something amazing in return. She has done so much for me. She has been my inspiration to be a better person, to give generously without expecting anything in return. I just wish more people could be like her.
I Nominate myself for many reasons. I am a 28 year old Residential Counselor who has a very busy life and would love to win this contest to collect my thoughts and get realize I am here and what are somethings I enjoy because at this point I put everything I like and want to do aside. I work from 11 to 7 as a residential counselor for the Behavorial Health. Then Take my sister to work before 8 am and drop my 2yr old neice off at day care. Sometimes I don't have certain days off at my second job so it would be everything that I said thus far sleep for 30 min then go work at "DOTS" which is a clothings store. Then I get off from there at 2 pm clean my house a little wake my fiance ans take him to work. Come back and pick my sister and my niece up and take them home. rest for 3 to 4 hours and then go get my fiance and drop him off at home then go back to my counseling job. I tend to put everyone before myself because I have a very kind heart and if I can help someone out I believe it will come back to me and I will get a reward for doing all that I can to helping people. That is the end of my little speal. I hope I wil and if not good luck to all the ladies that are nominated and to the possible winner relax and take it all in you derve it.
Lindsay is a born “doer”….high energy, lots of personality, very independent and full of piss and vinegar! The later is tempered with a great deal of innate love and a sense of charity for human kind. Her tenacity and determination has made her a survivor as she has had to survive and put into perspective, much pain and suffering in her short life. A female child who chooses to assert herself in effort become her own unique person in spite of what life throws her way, in my mind, is truly a visionary.
She launched herself into the "work world" at the young age of 12, and since has run three companies; two in advertising/marketing and one event marketing company. Now at 25 she is the President of Ad Femme, Inc., the editor-in-chief of TheCoregInsider.com, a weekly contributor to DigitalMoses.com, a sought after web design consultant, AND the Director of Partner Development for ValidClick (AMEX: THK).
Through her current work with AdFemme.com she touches the lives of many on a daily basis. Her #1 priority is building communities of empowered women, and giving back to community through the donation of 5 – 10% of Ad Femme’s revenues. She was recently asked to be the Director of Marketing for Chance on Charity: an organization focused on grand scale non-profit fund raising.
Yes, I am proud of my child, not because she came from me, but what she had to “get herself out of” to become a successful, generous and loving human being. I flatter myself to think that I had something to do with that.
Keri is the noblest person that I have ever had the privilege of meeting. She grew up in a small city in the heart of America's Midwest but was never afraid to stand up for what she believed in – no matter who she might offend. Her feelings about racial equality and animal rights didn't fit the mold down there but she made sure that people heard her voice.
When I met her, in college, I asked her what she wanted to do with her life. She took a moment to collect herself and said, "I'd like to be a Mother," with a sincerity that told me it was a position she was used to having to defend. I merely nodded, "I want to help someone into the world. I want to be there to teach them things and to pick them up when they fall down."
Over time, we fell in love. Keri got a position doing internet marketing and rapidly rose through the ranks – soon she managed a team of people, a job that she enjoyed and found rewarding.
A little while later, we got married. Keri spoke to me again of her desire to be a Mother. "What about your career?" I asked her. "None of that matters to me," she said, "I have never lost sight of my goal in life."
And so we had our first son, Auden Needham, this past October. Keri left the workaday world behind her and is now the loving, kind-hearted and patient Mother that she always knew she would be.
Before my mother had reached the age of 24, she had lost both of her parents to cancer, her brother to suicide, and a marriage to her partner’s adultery. Yet, her faith maintained unwavering optimism for the future, and she’s made it. She is an inspiration, and that’s not even the half of it.
She has raised five daughters, a feat in and of itself. We are independent, proud, and truly enjoy one another’s company. We span ten years, have all attended or are currently attending accredited universities, and are an industrial engineer, a fifth grade teacher, a fundraiser, a human resources specialist and a student aspiring to also teach elementary school. The thing we most have in common is our admiration for our mom.
In addition to parenting the five of us, in 1993 my mom was struck with a dire need to be a foster parent. She had realized her calling and announced to us “I was put on this earth to be a mother.” Few are lucky enough to realize their calling with such clarity, but she had. And, she was right.
We were a foster home to twenty-nine children over a ten-year period. As my sisters and I grew old enough my mom shared with us the details of these children’s pasts, as both explanation why we needed to share our mother with them as much as a lesson in how fortunate we are.
I love my mom and am so proud of her I am practically bursting. This contest has given me the chance to put in writing what I know to be true every day, and I sincerely believe that of all the nominees, who I’m positive are incredible women, my mother is the most deserving of this recognition.
Six months after 9/11, Sophia Omar returned to her native Afghanistan for the first time in 23 years. Omar used her own money to start a 2-room medical clinic in Kabul, and convinced her brother-in-law, who was then a physician in Pakistan, to come run the clinic. Later, Omar recruited additional resources from Rotary International, CURE, and Assist, enabling the clinic to expand and become the largest hospital in Afghanistan.
Omar knows how to inspire others and manages to leverage existing organizations to get things done. When one of her customers told her that the Rotary Foundation is dedicated to local and global service projects, she joined the Rotarians. In 2002, she became the charter president of the Hayward Sunset Rotary club with the goal of enlisting the local Afghani community to help the people of Afghanistan.
Together with the Rotarians, Omar founded De Solay Daywa (“Torch of Peace”) Foundation to raise money for food, health care, and education in Afghanistan.
De Solay Daywa has arranged for huge shipments of rice, beans and cooking oil to Afghanistan. With the help of the Special Knitting Forces, she has also delivered sweaters, hats, and mittens to the children.
The hospital that grew from the small clinic that Omar started in Kabul is now a center of medical training in the country.
De Solay Daywa also runs a training center for widows, which contains a bakery, and a knitting and embroidery center. The products are sold in the marketplace, providing earnings for the women and their families.
When the security situation improves, Omar would like to establish another hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In the meantime, she has expanded her focus beyond Afghanistan, sending shipments of knitted clothing to children at a homeless shelter in San Jose and a village in Mexico.
I would have to nominate my 25 year old sister Andrea. She had her son at 17 years old, yet she has defied the odds in her life. She refused to be a statistic, and through hard work and dedication she went on to college and obtained not only her bachelor's degree but also her master's degree in education a few months ago. It was during her time in college that she caught the travel bug! She started to participate in "alternative" spring break programs where her travels are not only a vacation-time for her, but also a chance to travel to countries that are in need of some kind of help, so she volunteers her time while "vacationing." Her trips have brought her to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Cuba (her personal favorite). Each time she goes to one of these places she is involved in a community service project such as building houses in Siuna, Nicaragua, refurbishing schools in Caimito, Cuba and working in the fields with veterans of the Cuban Revolution planting and tending to crops.
She is so travel obsessed that as soon as she returns from a trip, she is automatically thinking of how she can go back. Since July, she has been back to Cuba two times and is returning again at the end of January to participate in another project in the community! At the same time, she is teaching her son the value of community service and helping others in need. When not traveling, she is a teacher in an alternative school program for youth ages 16-24. It's a tough population but she can relate to them. For these reasons, I believe that she is a deserving diva!
I am nominating Sony Stark (aka Pilot Girl) for her courage and talent and dedication to helping others.
Sony had a comfortable position as a videographer with a television station in New York. When the station made drastic staff cuts and, at the same time, gave enormous bonuses to management, Sony quit to travel the world with her video camera.
From the townships of South Africa, which she visited with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to the villages of the Shudra and Dalits ("untouchables") of India, Sony has used her talents as a writer and videographer to shed light on social injustice and to empower those who are its victims.
Now self-employed at Pilot Girl Productions, Sony continues to help non-profit groups, especially those dedicated to helping children, the homeless & mentally ill, animals and the environment.
GAIA–San Francisco was founded by Cheri Sugal, a leader in international rainforest conservation. For the past decade, Cheri has worked in more than 25 countries with indigenous people, governments and local landowners, helping to create more than 100 million acres of new protected areas world-wide. She firmly believes that the most important political and moral problem of our time is the the possible loss of half of all species on earth by the end of this century (EO Wilson) and, that the same time, that it only takes a few people with passion and commitment to turn the tide.
In 2001, she helped broker the largest conservation grant in history, a one hundred million dollar fund created by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, for Conservation International in Washington , DC. In 2002, she founded World Parks, a non-profit organization helping to broker conservation deals with private landowners in areas identified as the last remaining habitats for the world's most endangered species ( www.zeroextinction.org.)
She now focuses her conservation efforts in southern Mexico as Executive Director of an organization called Friends of Calakmul (www.calakmul.org), which is working with local landowners in the region to set aside half a million acres of pristine jaguar habitat for conservation. She is also a steering committee member of the Natural World Museum (www.naturalworldmuseum.org), the first museum in the world dedicated entirely to conservation, and a board member of Costa Rica Conservation Trust (www.conservecostarica.org), which is protecting land and providing environmental education for local people in the central pacific valley of Costa Rica.
