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Women Changing The World

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Thought you'd enjoy my blog posted on the San Francisco Foundation's website following the "Women Changing The World Luncheon".
http://www.sff.org/comments-women-changing-the-world/

By Belva Davis, who served as a moderator for the Fourth Annual Women Changing the World Luncheon. As the first black female TV journalist in the West, Belva Davis helped change the face and focus of TV news.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ANYONE WHO HAS PLANTED A SEED OF KINDNESS

In my life, Mother’s Day has always been a day to recognize those who have demonstrated the essence of love by their kindness. I acknowledge the special bond between my natural mother and me, also recognizing that whether in human life or in nature, a mother is a nurturer of seeds that struggle to survive. Since we all need a little watering or soil tending as we develop into our best selves, my thanks to all who have helped me along the way.

Five decades ago, a small band of friends in the San Francisco Bay area, who called themselves “Les Girls,” decided to celebrate their mothers, aunts, cousins and sometimes neighbors at a fancy restaurant for Sunday Brunch on Mother’s day. The gathering continues allowing them to embrace the broadest meaning of being a mother.

Belva Davis named one of the top 100 journalist of the last century

Belva Davis named as one of the top 100 journalist of the last century by Unity, the national organization representing minority journalists.

http://unityjournalists.org/news/unity-journalists-seeds-list-of-top-jou...

Quote by Belva: Don't be afraid of the space of between your dreams and reality,
if you dream it, you can make it so.

Library Journal

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Pioneering journalist Davis, writing with Haddock, tells her fascinating story in this highly readable memoir. Davis grew up hand to mouth in Louisiana and then Oakland. Unable to afford college, she began writing for African American publications and later moved to radio and local television news. Despite resistance at every turn because of her race and gender, her fame and influence grew with each career move.

The arts in a time of famine

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Almost every large and small arts organization is challenged these days to find a way to remain financially afloat.The old model for non-profit survival is just that---old. The days when a good idea or demonstrated need automatically drew the support of wealthy patrons and foundations, is rapidly eroding in the face of sharp drops in the financial markets. Government grants are being sharply cut as cities, counties and state governments face gigantic deficits, even bankruptcies.

The Crimson Shield of Truth

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The Harvard University crest takes the form of a crimson shield, surrounded by laurel wreaths, on which are depicted three open books bearing the Latin word, "Veritas"(truth). The design symbolizes a belief that mastery and "truth" can be found through study, research and contemplation, and that educational truth can be a crimson shield for victory in the battle against ignorance.

"Ghetto Girl": Michelle Obama and the Martha's Vineyard black elite

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Are you ready? Here's a quick lesson in African American social history. For more than a century, the East Coast black elite, including prominent artists, intellectuals and financially secure professionals, has gathered on the island of Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts, to relax and spend time with one another. By tradition, other ethnic groups do the same, and while the groups mingle socially, they largely live in segregated communities on the island.

Fortunate fog and lucky summer sunshine

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Life in San Francisco has a myriad of benefits, but a sunny, warm summer is not one of them.I've lost track of the number of summer days I've awakened to the drab color and dense feel of our thick, misty morning fog. Of course, we are aware that this thick, white blanket usually burns off as the day warms, but the absence of even a single ray of morning sunshine starts my day on a somber note. It seems to take more energy to put on a happy face and gear up for the day's challenges.

Connected by the Web

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The Church for the Fellowship for All Peoples on Russian Hill lists itself as "an interfaith, interracial, intercultural community of seekers dedicated to personal empowerment and social transformation". Sunday's sermon concerned our relationship to one another as human beings. I believe that despite our superficial differences, we are all one people, reflecting each other in everything we do.

And that's the way it was...

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Doggone it! I just know that picture of Walter Cronkite, with his wife Mary Elizabeth ("Betsy"), my husband Bill and me, our arms entwined around one anothers' shoulders, is somewhere around this house, but I can't find it anywhere. I value that photo, I treasure it, and yet at this moment when I need it most, I just can't put my hands on it.