Igniting Your Dream

Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year to actively pursue your dreams, but you’re not exactly sure how to do it? Big dreams are never meant for us to achieve on our own, we’ll need help from others to make the dream a reality.  If you think $10,000 could help further your dreams, then share your idea with American Family Insurance (Amfam) and you could win the cash plus a trip to Madison, WI. A panel of judges, including entrepreneur Kathy Ireland, will pick three winners to participate in the 2013 Dream Camp experience and receive coaching and mentoring.  Upload a photo with a short description detailing your dream or shoot a video describing your dream. Visit Amfam’s website and post your information on Facebook or YouTube. The deadline to enter is February 17, 2013.

Casually speaking and all the best,
Mercedes

50 Years Forward

The year 2013, marks fifty years since the civil rights movement’s most active period. Through a series of injustices to people of color in the United States over the years the civil rights movement was formed. It gained momentum in 1955, after Rosa Parks demonstrated courage, by refusing to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. That one-act of bravery led to a boycott of the bus systems and the movement grew.  The Freedom Riders took their stand for justice in 1961 when college students of different races joined together in the cause, including a vibrant young John Lewis, who dared to cross county lines on buses.  Then the devastating assassination in Jackson, Mississippi of civil rights activist Medgar Evers in June of 1963 shocked the nation, but ignited participants of the movement to take more aggressive action for change. In August 1963, the largest rally and non-violence protest took place during the March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leading in front.  Never in the history of the United States had such a peaceful demonstration of unification taken place, uniting thousands from all walks of life. Fifty years ago, they marched on Washington for jobs, civil rights and freedom and today in these United States the footsteps of those that marched can still be heard as the fight for the cause is maintained.

Birmingham, AL commemorates the civil rights movement, 50 Years Forward, with a year-long series of events and tours related to this period in history.

Casually speaking and all the best,
Mercedes

Forging Together

Video by atulocal689