Category Archives: Personal Empowerment

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Being in the media industry for over a decade, Ive witnessed and gone through different scenarios that tested my voice as a publicist and businesswoman. It wasnt an easy journey but by learning from experience and extracting the moral lessons, I didnt end up empty-handed.

There were situations when I felt unheard, powerlessand limited by my surroundings. But it was in those struggles that I pushed myself to step up. I broke through my limits, and from then on, I didnt allow anyone to trample on who I am and what I am capable of doing. Fueled with the desire to succeed, I decided to step forward and start speaking up for myself rather than staying in the shadows.

As a guide to amplifying my voice, I have formulated my own acronym B. E. P. I. C. which has helped me overcome moments of weakness to this day. Allow me to share the five takeaways and the importance of this acronym that helped me conquer various impediments.

The first move is to believe that you can do it. By trusting in your capabilities, youre turning your visions into reality. When your beliefs come to fruition, everything else follows. Your ambitions are nothing if you dont believe that you can achieve them. By believing in what you think, sayand do, you become a valuable player in the arena.

A mind is a powerful tool, indeed. If used properly, youre bound to receive phenomenal results. Jot down your goals and chant them out daily. Say the words, Why not me, I can do it! multiple times throughout the day. Words of affirmation bring in positivity and prompt you to become more productive. In times of doubt and fear, recall your purpose when you start your day and remember why you are on this path.

Related:How toBelieveIn Yourself Again

There are times when we talk for the sake of talking but not owning up to what we say.To speak into existence means confidently and passionately saying things that are going to happen to you. It is another way of working through the law of attraction. When you communicate, make sure to be clearheaded, well-prepared and the best version of yourself.

By speaking your mind, others will know your intentions. They may even have the right connections and resources to help you attain what you want. People asking for your opinions and goals dont always happen. If you remain silent, waitand merely go with the flow, then expect disappointments and frustrations to multiply by the end of the day.

Gather that courage and empower yourself to speak into existence. Self-empowerment brings you closer to the peak youve always wanted to reach. Once mastered, you become an empowered individual who is ready to conquer the world.

Speaking up for oneself is a challenge that requires preparation, time and open-mindedness. But that doesnt mean its not achievable. Understanding your past makes you more aware of how you interact with the present situation. Take time to meditate and look into how the past has molded your current self. If you were once a shy person, what steps can you take to overcome shyness and become more confident? When you acknowledge those fears and anxieties, you grow into a more sensible and powerful individual. As a result, you gain personal satisfaction and pride because you defended your ground. Once youve discovered this power, you can achieve anything you want.

Related:How to Find Your Purpose, Your Audience and YourVoice

Working on your inner core makes your visions more visible. Everything starts from within your desires, ambitionsand hopes, as well as fears and doubts. You have to dig in deeper and reorganize your emotions, strengths and weaknesses. This process involves the daily discovery of yourself in many ways. Take notes of what you often think about and habitually do, no matter how mundane these behaviors may be. These habits are usually reflections of your inner self. If you find yourself contradicting what you frequently do or say, itll be more strenuous for you to accomplish your goals and find your unique voice.

It takes courage to be epic and rise above all. It means embracing the ups and downs of life and putting yourself out there. Experience what life has to offer. It is the best and effective way to learn and understand more about yourself and life. You get to live and write your history in your own words as long as you permit yourself. It doesnt matter how old you are, where youre from or your upbringing. Nothing happens if you dont have courage, and its up to you to make that decision to want more for yourself.

The road may not be easy, but as long as youre willing to take the first step to greatness, everything else follows. You have the power to decide. Its only a matter of when youre ready to take that step to speak up andfind your unique voice.

Related:Why (and How) You Should Optimize Your Website forVoiceSearch

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The One Acronym You Need to Find Your Inner Voice - Entrepreneur

Veteran rockers Skillet teased the release of their new song, "Surviving the Game," and now that the music video for thetrack has finally arrived, the group has also unveiled the details to their 11th album,Dominion.

"Surviving the Game" comes from a point of personal empowerment on what frontman John Cooper described in a question and answer video session as a "defiant" album that is a reaction to a fear-based climate. Musically, this album opener leans into an electronic/beat-based direction with Cooper's rhythmicvocal delivery masked with a gritty filter that helps drive the nervous tension that breaks free with a thunderous, fist-shaking chorus.

The singer/bassist described "Surviving the Game" as "a defiant song about not giving in to the fear that the world is and has been experiencing. This song brings a feeling of survival; you have to do what you need to do in order to get your life back; a defiance against fear and the things that want to hold you down. For so many, that's depression, isolation, loneliness, suicidal thoughts, etc. This song is about becoming the person you are meant be and coming out on the other side of all the madness."

"'Dominion is about the celebration of freedom, a liberation from fear to be who we want to be, say what we want to say, believe what we want to believe. In some ways, it's a reminder of the God-given rights that we were born with. It's time to regain some sort of control over our lives and not be a slave to fear," Cooper continued, commenting on the upcoming full length. "I hope this record is going to make people feel empowered, inspired, uplifted and want to rock their faces off!"

Watch the video for "Surviving the Game" toward the bottom of the page and read the lyrics directly below. The Dominion album, which was produced by Kevin Churko, will be released on January 14, 2022 through Atlantic Records. View the artwork and track listing further below and pre-order your copy of the album here.

To be more than a conquerorYou have to learn to enjoy the painIf you want to survive the game

You can try to defeat me (beat me)You dunno its the pain thatll feed me (feed me)And I'm gonna take back what you took beforeCoz I was born for this

All the bones that youre breaking (breaking)You pretend youre the one that can save me (save me)Now Im taking it back - it was never yoursIm fighting

Fighting for my focusGive the pain a purposeLight the fire insideFeel it come alive (come alive)Show em what Im made ofVictories for the brave onesWho never bow the knee when its do or die

One more time

Surviving the gameI can be unstoppableGonna walk through hellGonna shake the wallsSurvive - Surviving the game

Living the impossibleIm a champion, IndestructibleSurvive - coz Im

Surviving the gameI can be unstoppableGonna be indestructibleI can be unstoppableGonna be indestructible

All the liars around me (round me)Like the wolves at the walls they surround me (round me)In the face of the fear I keep standing tallI will conquer this

I come out like a lion (lion)I was born to be demon-defiant (biting)And I wont ever let this kingdom fallIll show them

Show them what youre made ofVictories for the brave onesNever bow the knee coz its do or die

I am more than a conquerorThe past behind me life is aheadIll take the way of the WarriorI walk alone no fear to the death

01. "Surviving The Game"02. "Standing In The Storm"03. "Dominion"04. "Valley Of Death"05. "Beyond Incredible"06. "Destiny"07. "Refuge"08. "Shout Your Freedom"09. "Destroyer"10. "Forever Or The End"11. "Ignite"12. "White Horse"

Loudwire's picks for the best rock songs of 2021 so far.

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Skillet Lead 11th Album 'Dominion' With New Song 'Surviving the Game' - Loudwire

Yvonne Bajela is a Founding Member and Principal at Impact X Capital, a UK-based venture capital fund which invests in companies led by underrepresented entrepreneurs. To date, Yvonne has invested over $200 million (over 170 million) in various startups across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

You might recognise Yvonne from Forbes Under 30 Europe: Meet The European Finance Leaders Of Tomorrow (in addition to other listicles such as 8 female venture capital investors to watch in 2021, and 25 Leading Black British Business People To Follow, among others), as well as in our EU-Startups lists TOP 50: Europes most influential women in the startup and venture capital space and 10 cool tech/entrepreneurship voices to follow on instagram in 2021.

Prior to her time at Impact X, Yvonne was a Senior Investment Manager at Mitsui & Co.m being the youngest investment manager across the groups 90,000 global employees. Since then, Yvonne has risen to success with a quiet determination and humbleness, acting as an advocate for entrepreneurship and female empowerment, and regularly hired to deliver talks and workshops on women in leadership and how to scale early-stage companies.

We were lucky to speak with Yvonne recently about her personal investment mission and what she looks for in startups, her opinion on the VC landscape in Europe and additional advice for budding founders. So lets get started!

Hello Yvonne, welcome and thank you for joining us. Could you give us a brief summary of your background? Also: What made you leave investment banking and move into VC?

My father inspired me to study finance. From the age of seven, we would read the Economist and Financial Times together and he instilled in me a belief that I could change the world from a financial perspective. I went on to study Economics and business finance at university and at the time knew nothing about the world of venture capital, so I went into banking as it seemed to be one of the few attractive options at the time. It wasnt until I spent the summer of 2013 in Ghana, where I was providing pro-bono advise to African startups that I came to know all about the world of venture capital. It was also that period of time that I decided I would make the move into VC as I loved working with startups, particularly at that scrappy early phase.

What is your personal investment mission?

First of all, I must say I am very lucky to work with incredible entrepreneurs from all walks of life everyday who are literally reshaping entire sectors and industries. I want to see a venture capital industry that is not characterised by disparities in funding. Ultimately, if we really want to build a world where the products and services we use fully cater to people of all backgrounds with no bias, we need to make sure people from all backgrounds are getting funded at all levels. At the moment they are not and thats why Im playing my little part to ensure more funding goes to female and black founders. That is my mission.

You have invested over $200 million in various startups across Europe, Middle East and Africa throughout your career. What do you look for in startups?

The key thing I always look at is the team and whether they have the x factor as regardless of the idea the people managing the startup are the ones who will navigate the company to success. Even an incredible idea can fail to get off the ground without the right team, which Ive seen happen a several times. Being obsessively passionate is also important as there are likely to be many challenges along the way. Ive witnessed how entrepreneurs with a relentless passion for solving problems are able to withstand the challenges and come out on the other side.

Could you tell us your impression of the current VC landscape in Europe? Have you seen anything change in the past few years, or even during the COVID pandemic?

Its a very exciting time at the moment. When I started working in the industry in 2015, the question was whether Europe will produce many unicorns; we are now seeing new unicorns emerging every week. The growth in American VC players investing in European companies has largely contributed to in the increase of European unicorns.

Were in a golden era of entrepreneurship in Europe, with many early employees from some of Europes largest tech firms such as Skype, Spotify Klarna, Ayden, fuelling the next generation of investors and startups. Thats exactly what we saw happen in the US with the so called PayPal mafia.

I am also excited that more funding is going to diverse founders, however we still have a long way to go. Companies founded by black and female entrepreneurs across Europe such as Marshmallow, which recently became a unicorn, are demonstrating that there is no pipeline problem.

What advice would you give to startups with female and underrepresented founders, who are currently experiencing pushback?

Be confident in yourself and the work youre doing. Dont ever feel like you have to change yourself or behave like a man to succeed, focus on your strengths and amplify them. Ultimately, you deserve a seat at the table so keep pushing until the door opens. You also have to remember that you wont be liked by everyone, so surround yourself with those who believe in your mission and dont compromise on your values and who you are as a person.

You have been included in many lists such as Forbes 8 female venture capital investors to watch in 2021, and are an advocate for women in business and leadership. What would you say to any founders reading who are finding their feet in leadership positions?

If you want to lead and make an impact, you have to be your true authentic self. It will require self-awareness, mindfulness and self-development but the best leaders stay true to themselves. It took me a while to truly grasp that after starting my career in banking and feeling as if I needed to be louder and more assertive like my male counterparts in order to be successful. In reality, me being empathetic and soft-spoken have proven to be my superpowers.

Secondly, you have to have to be flexible because things are going to fail, fall apart and go wrong at one point or another. Learning how to adapt to situations and continue to push through is an essential part of leadership.

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"If you want to lead and make an impact, you have to be your true authentic self": Interview with Yvonne Bajela, Founding Member and...

LA Premiere Of Entertainment Studios' "47 Meters Down Uncaged" - Arrivals

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At 27-years-young, Corrine Foxx is a welcomed fresh face beauty forging her own lane as a model, host and philanthropist. You can add her latest collaboration with T.J.Maxxs The Maxx You Project to her impressive resume. The pen pal program, The Change Exchange was designed with one thing in mind: to change what change feels like, says the official website.

We caught up with the Beat Shazam host, who opened up about the program and the style/life lessons she learned from her dad Jamie Foxx.

HelloBeautifful: Corrine, tell us about The Change Exchange and why it was a perfect collaboration for you?

Corrine Foxx: Ive been involved in the philanthropic space for a while, and female empowerment is so important to me. The last year and a half has been full of so many changes, and I think The Change Exchange is an incredible way to connect women and give them a support network during this time. My female friendships are everything to me, so I love that T.J.Maxx is giving women the opportunity to find connections and empower each other during moments of change!

When I opened up about my anxiety a few years ago, I was worried I would be called the c-word, which is crazy. Instead, I was flooded with so many messages of support from people thanking me for my honesty. It really showed me that people are craving vulnerability, and that acting with openness and compassion can lead to deeper connections with others.

Ill be co-hosting a workshop on T.J.Maxxs Instagram this Saturday (9/18) called Welcome & Embracing Change with my good friend Aija Mayrock, who is an incredible poet and activist. Well be giving women journal prompts so they can write about what theyve gone through and talk about how transformative change can be. Im really looking forward to opening up this dialogue and hear from other women about their own experiences!

HB: What do you love about TJ Maxx shopping?

CF: I love that T.J.Maxx encourages women to embrace their personal style and wear what makes them feel most confident!

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US-ENTERTAINMENT-SAG-FILM-AWARDS-SHOW

Source: VALERIE MACON / Getty

HB: What did you father teach you about style and fashion?

CF: My dad taught me to be authentic to myself, and that includes my style! He did a great job of giving me the confidence to try new looks and have fun with fashion when I was growing up.

HB: How did he help instill strong beauty ideals about yourself?

CF: Hes pretty good about exercising, so I think as far as beauty goes, he taught me self-care is important and it really is a priority for me! I always do my best to set aside time for myself, whether its journaling, meditating, moving my body or getting on the phone with my girlfriends. It really helps me feel like the best version of myself and approach life with a positive attitude!

Corinne will be co-hosting a virtual workshop later this month titled Welcoming Change & Transformation.

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Corrine Foxx: My Father Taught Me The Importance Of Self Care - Yahoo Lifestyle

The Coccinelle x Barbie collection inspires women and young girls to become whatever they want to be. It is now available in selected travel retail locations worldwide.

Italian womenswear and accessories house Coccinelle has partnered with popular fashion doll brand Barbie to release a capsule collection.

The Coccinelle x Barbie range is now available in selected travel retail locations worldwide. This includes Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Haikou Meilan International Airport, T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS and Tallinks cruise-ferry network.

The Coccinelle x Barbie line represents Barbies constant reinvention through the years to becoming a symbol of diversity, inclusion and empowerment.

The worlds most famous doll brand has evolved to showcase all different shapes, sizes and colours to mirror the beauty of real women today and promote body positivity and representation for young girls.

The fabric and nylon tote bag, emblazoned with the words the future is limitless represents Coccinelle and Barbies shared belief that little girls can grow up to be anything that they want to be.

The future is limitless: The collaboration is supported by a global marketing campaign, featuring a line-up of inspiring female brand ambassadors

The bag features Coccinelles signature grosgrain ribbon and is available in pink and black colour-ways. Pink is a significant colour for both partners and is a symbol for contemporary femininity, while black represents rebellion and resilience.

Inside, the bag features a Barbie Pink label, which is also the colour of the packaging. The future is limitless slogan can also be found inside the bag, peeking through a clear window, which references the classic Barbie box.

To celebrate the collaboration, Coccinelle and Barbie are launching a global campaign that embraces 25 different countries. The campaign will shine the light on a diverse line-up of global brand ambassadors who have broken glass ceilings and will share their own personal empowerment stories, promoting the partners message of inclusivity and positivity.

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The future is limitless Coccinelle and Barbie team up to launch new collection - The Moodie Davitt Report - The Moodie Davitt Report

TRI-CITIES, WA - A new kind of women's empowerment event is coming to the Tri-Cities. The Owning Your Power: Women's Self-Love Retreat will feature a variety of workshops and experiences to help local women launch their personal wellness journey.

Event Host and Photographer, Jamie Kincaid with JK Photos, decided to host the first-ever event to help women step into their power and connect with others on their journey to self-love. The retreat will combine a variety of workshops and classes led by local motivators and wellness professionals, plus a self-love inspired photoshoot for each participant.

Presenters include Reka Robinson, Becky Benson, Chastity Jewel Scott, and Jamie Kincaid. Each will guide participants through empowering workshops and mindfulness practices designed to help women understand their worth.

The Owning Your Power: Women's Self Love Retreat is Saturday, October 2nd from 10am to 6pm. Tickets are on sale for $500/each until September 24th. For more information or to register for the event, visit http://www.jkphotoswa.com/2021-retreat.

Proof of vaccination is required for all participants.

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MADELINE MOTIVATES: Women's Self Love Retreat coming soon to the Tri-Cities - NBC Right Now

Iraq has climbed the ranks on various economic indicators over the past decade as the government's fiscal reforms aimed at ensuring stability bear fruit, according to the 2020 Legatum Prosperity Index.

Iraq rose five places to 137th position out of 167 countries in 2020, up from 142nd place in 2010 when it was one of the least prosperous countries, the index shows.

It scored higher for its open economy particularly economic quality, market access and infrastructure as well as social inclusion, although its people empowerment fell by one spot.

"Prosperity is far more than wealth; it is when all people have the opportunity and freedom to thrive. Prosperity is underpinned by an inclusive society, with a strong contract that protects the fundamental liberties and security of every individual," the Legatum Institute's report said.

"It is driven by an open economy that harnesses ideas and talent to create sustainable pathways out of poverty. And it is built by empowered people, who contribute and play their part in creating a society that promotes well-being," the UK-based think tank said.

The World Bank estimates Iraq's economy will grow 1.9 per cent this year, and expand 6.3 per cent over the next two years, on the back of rebounding oil prices and rising Opec+ production quotas. Non-oil GDP is forecast to recover in 2021, growing by 5.5 per cent.

The Legatum Prosperity Index, now in its 14th year, assesses how well countries promote the economic and social well-being of their residents in three domains: inclusive societies, open economies and empowered people.

Iraq's score rose for two out of these three overarching categories that determine a country's prosperity performance.

The country rose three notches in the inclusive society category, which includes sub-divisions of safety and security, personal freedom, governance and social capital. It jumped seven ranks in the open economy category, which includes sub-divisions of the investment environment, enterprise conditions, market access and economic quality.

However, it dropped one rank in the people empowerment category that includes measures of living conditions, health, education and natural environment.

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Iraq is poised to attract significant foreign investment into its energy sector, in tandem with expected higher revenues following the Opec+ decision to raise output that will help strengthen its weak fiscal position. Baghdad is a founding member of Opec and the group's second-largest producer,

"The recent recovery in oil prices provides an opportunity to push ahead with reforms," the World Bank said in its Spring 2021 Iraq Economic Monitor. "With oil prices trending above the US$60/barrel, Iraq could engage actively on the white paper reforms and use those windfalls to soften the potential repercussion of those reforms."

The country's economic outlook hinges on global oil market prospects, the implementation of reforms and the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Washington-based lender said.

The Covid-19 crisis, combined with a decline in oil revenues last year from low global demand and Opec+ output cuts, dealt a severe blow to the country's rentier economy. Like many countries affected by the pandemic, Iraq's economy contracted 10.4 per cent in 2020 after growing 4.5 per cent the previous year, according to the World Bank.

Iraqs economy is expected to return to pre-pandemic economic growth levels by 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Iraq has begun taking much-needed steps towards ensuring future economic stability.

The Central Bank of Iraq devalued the currency by about 23 per cent against the US dollar in December a move the IMF expects to help reduce external imbalances and preserve foreign exchange reserves.

The draft 2021 budget is intended to cut the fiscal deficit through various measures to raise non-oil revenue and contain the unsustainable expansion of pension bills and government wages, the IMF said.

In July, Moodys Investors Service affirmed the Caa1 long-term non-investment grade rating of Iraq and maintained its stable outlook.

Meanwhile, Denmark topped the global index, with European nations dominating nine of the top 10 spots and New Zealand coming in at 7th place.

The UAE maintained its position as the most prosperous Arab nation for the 14th year in a row. The Emirates scored highly for its open economy, particularly its enterprise conditions, market access and infrastructure, putting the nation in 42nd position out of 167 countries.

Updated: September 20th 2021, 8:00 AM

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Iraq advances in prosperity index as economic reforms bear fruit - The National

Picture a Scientist, a documentary depicting the groundswell of women scientists working to further gender equity in STEM, is going viral. Its goal is to potentially act as a catalyst for reflection and discussion and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in science. If there is inequity in science, a field that precludes bias and discrimination by design, we can only imagine the state of inequality in spaces where gender matters.

Gender equality is a moral, business and an intellectual imperative. It is undebatable and independent of profession or affiliation or gender. Gender equality benefits both men and women. Barriers for women must be knocked down at every level.

Feminism is the notion that each individual should be free to develop their own talents and not be held back by man-made barriers. Amongst the other hurdles in the way of womens empowerment are implicit bias and gender stereotypes. Stereotypes related to gender brilliance or gender-based intrinsic aptitude or domestic responsibilities are instances of implicit bias, revealing automatic associations that people cannot or, at least, do not report holding when asked directly. Implicit biases generate inequity which remains unnoticed.

Due to deep-rooted biases, it is difficult for women to access many experiences and networks that are easily accessible to men. Personal barriers include notions of compromise and sacrifice that are ingrained in women another reflection of culture and society. This feeds into how women present themselves and the opportunities they take advantage of and also shape the responsibilities they are entrusted with. External barriers relate to the subtle, and often unspoken, societal and cultural cues which reinforce how men and women ought to behave. Our socio-cultural constructs reflect absolute patriarchal entrenchment, causing even women to be sceptical about their abilities, to accept the roles set for them in the household and to trade empowerment for male protection.

There is gender segregation in high-level jobs with more men in strategic functions and women in support functions. These glass walls occur through a combination of unconscious biases in career and recruitment processes, benevolent sexism where well-intended men can inadvertently kill careers with kindness, and socialised masculine behaviours which dissuade women from certain occupational choices. It is essential to create awareness of inherent injustice and biases. There has been a very gradual change in the representation and the status of women globally. Incremental changes, although realistic and necessary, are intangible and go partially unnoticed. The rate of change definitely needs to increase by several orders of magnitude.

The problem in India in STEM is quite different from the problem in the West in that many girls in India study STEM subjects but the number of women who stay on and pursue higher degrees and then go on to higher positions are fewer. In such cases of gender disparity, what matter are the decisions of marriage and childbearing, and the fact that a womans well-being and dignity are not necessarily in her hands. Gender sensitisation involves being cognisant of biological differences, recognising the needs of either sex and creating safe spaces without gender bias.

The issue of womens empowerment in India contains a strange paradox. There are women in powerful positions in many fields but, at the same time, several women have minimal rights. In the capital, New Delhi, and in the political realm, there have been many powerful women. However, the high rate of crimes against women, including murder, rape, and female infanticide, in the nations capital shows that political power and intellectual presence are not transferred. Untangling this paradox and fostering equality requires overcoming social, economic and cultural barriers, and implicit biases at the grassroots.

There is thus a need for a major upheaval in mindsets about gender in India, a social and cultural change in what is perceived as right and wrong for women. Policies that help women advance in science and society globally are needed. The world cannot afford to miss out on what women have to offer.

This column first appeared in the print edition on September 18, 2021 under the title Breaking the glass walls. The writer is senior principal scientist in the biological engineering unit of the chemical engineering and process development division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune.

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Break down the glass walls for women in STEM - The Indian Express

If you want to know where the Republican Party is headed, you need to set aside your assumptions and simply listen to what its leaders and activists sayespecially when theyre talking amongst themselves. As a reporter and author on the religious right beat over the past dozen years, Ive made a point of attending such meetings, especially those that focus on the religious right leadership and strategists who command the movements voter turnout machine. Lately, Ive been hearing things that might surpriseand alarmthose who see the movement only from a distance.

A good venue to catch up on the latest thinking inside the movement that wants to take America back to a place that never existed is this summers Road to Majority convention, an annual gathering of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, which was held this year at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida.

In recent years, the convention has brought together the big Republican names with the on-the-ground activists who delivered the largest and most reliable slice of the Trump electorate. Dozens of featured speakers this year included Mike Pence, Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn, Ron DeSantis, Lindsey Graham, and Madison Cawthorn.

I came away from my listening experience in Kissimmee with a few surprisesor at least a few takeaways that may challenge some of the narratives that prevail in the center and on the left about Americas Christian nationalist movement. The first is that any Democrats who take comfort from the thought that demography is destiny are probably deluding themselves. The received wisdom on the center-left is that Americas homegrown authoritarian faction is an affair largely concentrated on an older, whiter base that is just now exiting the stage of history with loud grievances in hand. But thats not how the leaders of the movement see thingsand the broader picture may indeed be a bit more complex.

Of the many religious-right strategy gatherings Ive attended over the years, this was among the most ethnically and racially diverse. I am pleased to be able to report that we have 200 African American pastors and community organizers who are here this week and over 500 Hispanic pastors and community organizers, and we are going to keep going until this movement embraces the full diversity of our country, said Ralph Reed. By my count, over 30 of the roughly 70 speakers were Black or Latino.

The diversity on display at the conference reflects the fact that the religious right has been making a sizable effort to cultivate conservative-leaning Latino and Black voters of faith. Much of the action starts by attracting religious leaders from communities of color, who are often drawn into larger pastoral networks such as Watchmen on the Wall and Ministeros Hispanos. An aspect of the diversity push, to be sure, is merely performative, a means of reassuring white voters that they arent racist after all. But the strategy works with a nonnegligible number of voters of color, too. Between 2016 and 2020, Trump made substantial gains among Latino voters in particular.

In Kissimmee, the speakers, and especially the speakers of color, had a unified message about race, and it was one that Democratic strategists might wish to note as they craft their own messaging and outreach in the run-up to the 2022 midterm elections. Speaker after speaker at the Road to Majority Policy Conference asserted that they believe in an America where race doesnt define youwhere opportunity is there for all who strive for it.

Never mind the Republican Partys efforts to promote McCarthyist laws that restrict discussions of the history of racism and other supposedly divisive concepts in American schools; or its leaderships denigrating characterizations of political leaders of color with whom they disagree. And who here really cares that the Republican Party has championed voter suppression and gerrymandering that disproportionately affect voters of color and others in democratic-leaning districts, or that some Republican leaders tolerate or even court the support of white supremacists? The fact is, this message has presumably convinced some peopleincluding those at the gathering in Kissimmeethat their party is the one on the side of equality and justice for all, while the other side is the one that insists on characterizing everybody by the color of their skin.

C.L. Bryant, a right-wing television and radio host, made the point with an anecdote about a long-ago confrontation with his grandfather over his Afrocentric style. He said these words: Sonny . . . I didnt go through all that I went through so that you could be Black. I went through all that I went through so that you could be free.

Its a message that has a strong appeal to some immigrants, as Jennifer S. Carroll, a former Navy commander born in Trinidad who served as lieutenant governor of Florida, made clear at a panel titled Majority Minority. I wanted to give back to my country because my country gave myself and my family so much, said Carroll. And thats what immigrants are all about. Recognizing that this country is a special place. The only place in the land that can give a person like me the ladders to climb if I choose to climb it.

Carroll delivered her comments with passionate sincerity. But as one speaker after another offered the same caricature of critical race theory as the centerpiece of their presentations, I was reminded of statements from Christopher F. Rufo, a conservative activist and architect of this new front in the culture wars: We have successfully frozen their brandcritical race theoryinto the public conversation and are steadily driving up negative perceptions, he wrote on Twitter. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think critical race theory. We have decodified the term and will recodify it to annex the entire range of cultural constructions that are unpopular with Americans.

At a Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference the following month the drumbeat continued. What are our parents around the country doing to stop critical race theory from taking over our schools, what are we doing to stop them from taking over our corporations, taking over sports, even taking over the military? said David M. McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth. Martin Luther King had a dream: that we would judge or be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. . . . But radical Marxists have taken over this movement they call critical race theory that shames our children, treats them differently and punishes them based on the color of their skin. And tells them America, our country, our capitalist free markets, our constitution are evil and irretrievable.

According to a June report in Media Matters, in the prior three and a half months, critical race theory was mentioned on Fox News nearly two thousand times. By comparison, in November 2020, there were just four mentions.

The second surprise on my listening tour was more of the I cant believe this is actually happening variety. Over the past two decades, the imminent demise of the religious right has been predicted with casual confidence many times, and the often unspoken assumption is that the movement will turn watery as it fades away. But that isnt what the people at the Road to Majority conference or CPAC think at all. This movement is getting ideologically harder, hotter, and more extreme in every way as it moves forward into the future.

Two decades ago, an ideology called Seven Mountains Dominionism was considered so fringy that it was never allowed near the podium with Republican political leaders. Now, that very same ideology is a heartbeat away from everything that happens in the Republican Party. This year, in fact, the Road to Majority featured a breakout session titled The Seven Mountains of Influence.

Seven Mountains dominionism is the conviction that Christians of a certain hyperconservative variety should rightfully dominate the main peaks of modern civilization in the United States and, ultimately, the world. The ideology reportedly got its start in 1975, when Loren Cunningham, a missionary leader, and Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru), allegedly heard messages from God urging them to invade the seven spheres of society, which by their reckoning included government, media, education, business, entertainment, religion, and family. According to the late C. Peter Wagner, a key proponent of the ideology, the responsibility of Christians to take over whatever molder of culture or subdivision God has placed them in is really a matter of taking dominion back from Satan.

That last bit about Satan gets to the throbbing heart of this political ideology. In Kissimmee, speakers and panelists inveighed that America is on the precipice, careening toward a socialist revolution, anarchy, and chaos, and is under the thumb of the most despicable human beings imaginablenamely Democrats, who were referred to as the enemy, Satanic, and agents of evil. Panelist and religious activist Johnny Enlow, who has authored multiple books on the Seven Mountains, warned that if Christians dont fight to conquer darkness, the world goes under control of the deep state, illuminati, demonic possession for hundreds of years, thats what were facing.

Describing what she claimed to be a Democratic voter registration operation targeting Puerto Ricans coming to America after Hurricane Maria, Adianis Morales Robles, a GOP operative and religious right activist, said, God was showing me the injustices that these organizations, these demonic organizations, are doing to our people.

For decades, this kind of blatantly theocratic political ideology lived on the fringes of the Republican Party, where leaders might toss its adherents a gratifying wink while pretending to the outside world that they didnt really exist. Those days are over. In Kissimmee, at the conclusion of The Seven Mountains of Influence breakout session, comprised entirely of panelists of color, Ralph Reed stopped by to offer praise and encouragement. I want you to know that my commitment to building bridges in the African American community is not about politics, he said as dozens of attendees rushed toward the stage to get selfies with the speakers. This is about the Kingdom of God. Other speakers and panelists at the Road to Majority convention invoked the language and goals of Seven Mountains dominionism as if it were simply shorthand for the Republican agenda.

You got to put on the full armor of God, said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alluding to a passage from Ephesians thats often used to invoke a spiritual war against the devil. You got to take a stand, take a stand against the lefts schemes.

The end-of-the-world vision at the heart of the new Republican orthodoxy may help explain a further observation: The people who attend these kinds of religious nationalist gatheringsthe activist backbone of the Republican Partyare in no mood to back down from the January 6 attempt to subvert the presidential election through a brutal and disgraceful attack on our Capitol. Sometime around January 7, some parts of the mainstream wisdom coalesced around the idea that the Republican Party now had a chance to separate itself from the anti-democratic elements within. That moment has passed. There will be no reckoning within the Republican Party over Donald Trumps attempted coup, and any Republican who tries will be excluded from gatherings like these.

In conversation with conference organizer Ralph Reed, Eric Metaxas let it be known that the real victims of the January 6 event were the good people who ransacked the Capitol. He fired an arrow across their bow (his words) to Republican leaders: Any Republican that has not spoken in defense of the January 6 people to me is dead. Theyre dead.

The right-wing political commentator and activist Dinesh DSouza, also in conversation with Ralph Reed, echoed the sentiment. The people who are getting shafted right now are the January 6 protesters, he said. We wont defend our guys even when theyre good guys.

Reed nodded and replied, I think Trump taught our movement a lot.

At CPAC, January 6 was even reconceived as a possibly Democratic plot. [The Biden] administration is about tyrannical rule. They dont follow the Constitution, said Allen West, former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, before he recast events driven by far-right extremists as bizarre and possibly Democratic conspiracies. On January 6 the sergeant at arms had turned down, on behalf of the speaker, having the National Guard there to help protect the Capitol. Why did that happen? You think they were setting things up? Well I do.

In Kissimmee, perhaps the sole wry note of commentary on the character of the former president was provided by Senator Lindsey Graham, who quipped, We came to find common ground. The common ground is that [former president Trump] likes [himself], and I have come to like him, But I heard no expressions of remorse, misgivings, or even doubt about the greatness of Donald Trump and his administration. Bottom line is President Trump delivered, dont you think? Graham concluded. This partyor at least the hard rock of its base represented in this gatheringis moving toward, not away from Trumpism.

And yet, notwithstanding the apocalyptic rhetoric and visceral hatred of the liberal enemy that seemed to exude from every presentation and panel (Democratic strategists take note), this is a party and movement that is determined to telegraph confidence in the future and tell a positive story about America. Im going to count this as something of a surprise, toobecause the conventional narratives on the left hold that any movement so steeped in fear and loathing cannot possibly have a positive mindset, and that narrative turns out to be false, at least to the people here on the ground.

Speaker after speaker told hopeful stories of personal triumph and presented a vision of an America characterized by what they call freedom, opportunity, personal empowerment, and spiritual fulfillment. Party loyalists in Kissimmee passionately conveyed the message that this happy future is within their graspthey just need to trample a few demonic organizations to get there.

A final aspect of todays Christian nationalism that deserves more attention than it gets is the role of extreme money in shaping the movement. Too often the nature and goals of the movement are explainedand explained awayin purely social terms, as the reactions of a large mass of believers who see the world of their youth slipping away. We too easily forget that building an effective political movement of this kind takes a lot of moneyand that money isnt shy about speaking its mind.

A good place to witness the union of money and God would surely have been the Ziklag Group gathering, which took place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Dallas in mid-June.

Named after a Philistine town that biblical King David used as a retreat from which to mount his battle against the Amalekites, the Ziklag Group is affiliated with United in Purpose, a data, networking, and messaging organization thats played a substantial role in turning out the conservative Christian vote in past elections. You can get a sense of the Ziklag Groups true raison dtre from a glance at its membership/attendee criteria, which appeared on the invitation. Attendance, I learned, was limited to those who are committed to Christ, are humble in spirit, and have demonstrated success in business with significant financial means, defined as a net worth of at least $25 million.

Having come up, among other things, a few million dollars short on their admissions requirements, I cant offer any takeaways from the Ziklag Groups gathering. But the invitation I saw showed that, just like the Road to Majority gathering in Kissimmee, it prominently featured a Seven Mountains Mandate workshop along with its list of noted keynote speakers including Mike Pence.

But one difference between the gatherings in Kissimmee and Dallas has to do with the certainty of payoffs. Whether the tax cuts, budget cuts, and non-regulation of markets that are the reliable outcome of Republican politics will work to the benefit of the diverse crowd that gathered in Kissimmee is doubtful. That they will serve the interests of the extravagantly rich attendees of the Ziklag Group gathering, on the other hand, is certain. That, presumably, is why the kind of people who attended the event in Dallas are likely footing most of the bill for events like these that unite the Republican Party around a radical vision, even as they deepen our countrys political divisions.

Katherine Stewart is the author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism (Bloomsbury). Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, and The New Republic. This article was originally published by Religion Dispatches, a publication of Political Research Associates, on August 9, 2021.

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What's Missing From Popular Discussions of Today's Christian Nationalism - The Washington Spectator

Celebrities and fashion icons dazzled at New York City's ultimate night of glamour and haute couture on Monday evening. Making her grand debut at The Costume Institute Benefit was none other than chic billionaire philanthropist, Sudha Reddy who joined the likes of Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Kris Jenner, ASAP Rocky and others.

The wife of billionaire Megha Krishna Reddy has been stealing the limelight ever since her outing at the Global Gift Gala alongside Elizabeth Hurley, and never fails to impress everyone with her sartorial fashion choices.After serving some major fashion goals on her 40th birthday, the fashionista and art aficionado once again made headlines with her red carpet appearance at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, looking every bit of a designers muse in a breathtakingly opulent ensemble.

Making a regal entry in a spanking white Rolls Royce, the chic philanthropist debuted at the glamorous soire donning a bespoke ensemble assembled by Falguni Shane Peacock, Chanel, Judith Leiber and Farah Ali Khan. Keeping up with this years theme and maintaining an Indian touch to her outing, the business doyennes military-inspired haute couture look was inspired by the American Revolution.

While Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Isha Ambani and Natasha Poonawala have attended the do in the past, the elegant entrepreneur becomes the first non-film luminary from Telangana and the only Indian celebrity to be invited for the extravaganza this year.

We caught up with her for a quick tete a tete -

Firstly, how do you feel being the only Indian at "Party Of The Year," the "Super Bowl Of Fashion," and the "Oscars Of The East Coast?

Incredibly blessed and humbled. Im always looking forward to putting India on the world map. For me this was an opportunity to showcase not just myself but represent my country and my city. While the Met Gala is the greatest fashion night, for me it was an opportunity to propel the cause of benevolence and align with individuals who see the merit and potential in the concept of giving back to society.

Can you describe those last moments in the car before landing on the red carpet?

All that was running through my mind was its showtime and my big golden moment to get the spotlight of my city, Hyderabad on the world stage! At that moment I was feeling proud, humbled and honored.

Tell us about your experience at the event?

Exciting and overwhelming. It was a surreal experience and Ive made so many amazing memories! I had interesting interactions with Donatella Versace, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Lil Nas X, Anna Wintour amongst others. All I wanted to do was shine the light on the brown renaissance and how Indians have arrived on the world stage in every sphere practically and I achieved that somewhere!

Lastly there is a lot of potential for South Asian representation at mainstream events such as the Met. What was this year like in this respect, and where do you think this representation can go?

I feel South Asian representation is still very marginalized at these events. I would have liked to see more South Asians and Indians at the event as I believe Indians are making a mark in every field across the world and they need to be celebrated at such global outings. Given how our lives have drastically changed post the pandemic, I would have also loved to see participation from personalities from the field of medicine, law, business, social service etc and not just celebrities from the world of fashion and entertainment at such events. Hailed as one of India Inc's most noteworthy do-gooders, Sudha Reddy propounds the inclusive microcosm of billionaires. Moving from cheque philanthropy' to hands-on philanthropy', the Sudha Reddy Foundation works towards causes of affordable healthcare and accessible education. She spearheads Megha Group Of Industries and TruJet Airlines. She was the only Indian to be nominated for The Global Gift Empowerment Of Women Award. With a commitment and vision to continually pledge out of her personal wealth, she handed over grants to two charities viz. Action Against Hunger and Fight Hunger Foundation and 'Breast Cancer Research Foundation' in Paris with Elizabeth Hurley in attendance.

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Hyderabads billionaire philanthropist, Sudha Reddy is a cynosure of all eyes at the 2021 Met Gala - Fortune India