DR. JACOBS NATURALS - Clean Living, Made with Love Since 2011

Joe + Lucy Aini started Dr. Jacobs Naturals in Brooklyn, New York with one mission in mind, to strengthen people’s lives + the lives of their loved ones each + everyday by putting their health first. They believe that people should holistically take care of their health on the inside just as much as they do on the outside – Clean Living, Made With Love.

The inception of the Dr. Jacobs Naturals brand actually stemmed from their oldest son. He was having issues with eczema + they could not find an all-natural soap that was sensitive enough for his skin, while soothing his mind.

Joe + Lucy live + breathe their mission every day, by incorporating healthy choices into their work. Each year they go on a 180-mile bike ride to raise money for Camp Simcha, a remarkable overnight camp that provides seriously ill children with a vacation from sickness, restoring their spirits + renewing their determination to fight their illness.

With this belief of clean living, Joe + Lucy began researching soaps that were healthy for the most sensitive skin, while creating holistic benefits for your mind and soul. They found that Castile soaps were wonderful for sensitive skin, but it took them researching about Dr. Jacobs, the Swiss Chemist who perfect the Castilian tradition of making Jabon de Castilla or Castile soap, to understand how to create the most natural of these soaps with the skin + aromatic characteristics in mind. All of the Dr. Jacobs Naturals Castile Soaps are 100% vegetable based (never any animal by products) + made from the highest quality natural + organic ingredients like olive + coconut oil, never palm oil, which is known for being harsh on your skin. Antioxidant rich olive + coconut oil have the ability to naturally moisturize your skin, keeping it hydrated all day with no oily residue. They also added aloe vera + Vitamin E to enhance the moisture experience.

Keeping the sense of touch + the skin in mind, Joe + Lucy wanted to create a luxurious feeling Castile soap, so they increased the viscosity two fold by adding the most natural of ingredients, sea salt + never adding any foaming agents.

• NO TOXINS like parabens, preservatives, phthalates, artificial dyes, or artificial fragrances.

• Gluten Free

• Cruelty-Free

• Vegan

• Made in the USA

• Non-GMO Project Certified.

I am currently using the Almond Honey Foaming Castile Hand Soap + Almond Honey Castile Liquid Soap for my Body Wash. Last night for my selfcare pampering, I opened up the Coco Loco Limeade Bar Soap + HOLY GUACAMOLE, I felt like I was TRANSPORTED to BORA BORA or MALDIVES or (fill in the blank and name your favorite island), because THAT is EXACTLY the SCENT + VIBE. It left my body + skin feeling the smoothest it has ever been!

There are 12 other Castile Body Washes to choose from here

What I also LOVE about Dr. Jacobs Naturals is that the Castile Liquid Soap that I use as my Body Wash can also be used as an All-Purpose Cleaning Spray, Produce Spray, Pet Wash + more!

HOUSE

HOW TO MAKE AN ALL-PURPOSE CLEANING SPRAY USING CASTILE SOAP:

In a spray bottle mix 1/4 cup Castile soap with 1 quart of water and shake to mix - remember to shake before each use.

Photo courtesy of: Wix

HOW TO WASH YOUR PRODUCE USING CASTILE SOAP:

Place a very small amount of Castile soap into a large bowl of water + mix. Dip + swirl each piece of produce, rinse with cold, running water + pat dry.

I'm excited to try out more of Dr. Jacob's Naturals products which include:

• Mosquito Repellent

• Air Freshener

• Produce Wash

BODY

Sets + Samplers

Liquid Soap (16 oz. / 32 oz.)

Bar Soap

Foaming Hand Soap

Gifts

Sets

BELLY Jelly

Belly Jelly by Dr. Jacobs Naturals was actually the brain child of Sister-In-Law, Freda Smeke. Since she can remember Freda has always had sensitive skin + with that, has always had to be cautious about what she put on her skin. She always looked for skincare + personal care products that were made with natural/organic ingredients + always toxin free. When she became pregnant with her first child, she looked everywhere for a natural baby ultrasound gel + to her dismay, could not find one.

They began researching + formulating a multifunctional, natural ultrasound gel that may also reduce the appearance of stretch marks, yet was safe for the most sensitive skin.

They developed Belly Jelly by Dr. Jacobs Naturals + went to work to verify that it was delicate enough for the most sensitive skin + safe for mother + baby with a RIPT Test. They also worked with doctors + dermatologists to gain approval for safety + use.

Belly Jelly is the first-to-market, EWG Verified Baby Ultrasound + Stretch Mark Gel that is RIPT Sensitivity Tested + Approved, Clinically Proven, Dermatologist Approved, Cruelty Free, Non-GMO, Hypoallergenic + Vegan.

And if that wasn't enough, there is...

• NO Gluten

• NO Fragrance

• NO Alcohol

• NO Dyes

• NO Formaldehyde

• NO Parabens

• NO Petrolatum

• NO Propylene Glycol

• NO Phthalate

• NO Sulfates

MOTHER + BABY

• Belly Jelly (Unscented)

• Hair Growth Restoration Therapy

• Unscented Castile Liquid Face + Body Wash

Photo courtesy of: Wix

PET

HOW TO WASH YOUR PET USING CASTILE SOAP:

Place a small amount of Castile soap onto your pet's fur or into your hands + massage into a lather, then rinse.

You can choose from a variety of scents for your Pet Wash from: Almond Honey, Charcoal, Shea Butter, Coconut, Lavender, Rose, Unscented, Citrus (Orange + Ginger) + Sandalwood.

Note: Just to be on the safe side, you can show your pet's vet the ingredients before using on your fur baby!

Be sure to use my COUPON CODE below at checkout:

NICOLEDEROSA

Shop Dr. Jacobs Naturals HERE

Formulation of an Assertive Statement + Assertive Communication

Assertiveness is communicating and expressing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a way that makes your views and needs clearly understood by others, without putting down their thoughts, feelings, or opinions. Assertive communication is the ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest and direct way.

It recognises our rights while still respecting the rights of others. It allows us to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions without judging or blaming other people. And it allows us to constructively confront and find a mutually satisfying solution where conflict exists.

Why Use Assertive Communication?

All of us use assertive behaviour at times... quite often when we feel vulnerable or unsure of ourselves we may resort to submissive, manipulative or aggressive behaviour.

Yet being trained in assertive communication actually increases the appropriate use of this sort of behaviour. It enables us to swap old behaviour patterns for a more positive approach to life. I've found that changing my response to others (be they work colleagues, clients or even my own family) can be exciting and stimulating.

Advantages of Assertiveness Skills in Communication

There are many advantages of assertiveness skills in communication, most notably these:

• Assertiveness helps us feel good about ourselves and others

• Assertiveness leads to the development of mutual respect with others

• Assertiveness increases our self-esteem

• Assertiveness helps us achieve our goals

• Assertiveness minimises hurting and alienating other people

• Assertiveness reduces anxiety

• Assertiveness protects us from being taken advantage of by others

• Assertiveness enables us to make decisions and free choices in life

• Assertiveness enables us to express a wide range of feelings and thoughts

There are, as I see it, four choices you can make about which style of communication you can employ:

1. Direct Aggression

Bossy, arrogant, bulldozing, intolerant, opinionated, and overbearing

2. Indirect Aggression

Sarcastic, deceiving, ambiguous, insinuating, manipulative, and guilt-inducing

3. Submissive

Wailing, moaning, helpless, passive, indecisive, and apologetic

4. Assertive

Direct, honest, accepting, responsible, and spontaneous

There are six main characteristics of assertiveness skills in communication:

1. Eye Contact

Demonstrates interest and shows sincerity.

2. Body Posture

Congruent body language will improve the significance of the message.

3. Gestures

Appropriate gestures help to add emphasis.

4. Voice

A level, modulated tone is more convincing and acceptable, and is not intimidating.

5. Timing

Use your judgement to maximise receptivity and impact.

6. Content

How, where and when you choose to comment is probably more important than WHAT you say.

The Importance of "I" Statements

Part of being assertive involves the ability to appropriately express your needs and feelings.

You can accomplish this by using "I" statements.

These indicate ownership, do not attribute blame, focuses on behaviour, identifies the effect of behaviour, is direct and honest, and contributes to the growth of your relationship with each other.

Strong "I" Statements Have Three Specific Elements:

• Behaviour

• Feeling

• Tangible effect (consequence to you)

For Example:

"I feel frustrated when you are late for meetings. I don't like having to repeat information."

Six Techniques For Assertiveness in Communication

There are six assertiveness techniques - let's look at each of them in turn.

Behaviour Rehearsal

This is literally practising how you want to look and sound. It is a very useful technique when you first want to use "I" statements, as it helps dissipate any emotion associated with an experience and allows you to accurately identify the behaviour you wish to confront.

Repeated Assertion (the 'broken record')

This assertiveness technique allows you to feel comfortable by ignoring manipulative verbal side traps, argumentative baiting and irrelevant logic while sticking to your point. To most effectively use this assertiveness technique use calm repetition, and say what you want and stay focused on the issue. You'll find that there is no need to rehearse this technique, and no need to 'hype yourself up' to deal with others.

Examples

"I would like to show you some of our products" "No thank you, I'm not interested" "I really have a great range to offer you" "That may be true, but I'm not interested at the moment" "Is there someone else here who would be interested?" "I don't want any of these products" "Ok, would you take this brochure and think about it?" "Yes, I will take a brochure" "Thank you" "You're welcome"

Fogging

This technique allows you to receive criticism comfortably, without getting anxious or defensive, and without rewarding manipulative criticism.To do this you need to acknowledge the criticism, agree that there may be some truth to what they say, but remain the judge of your choice of action.

An example of this could be:

"I agree that there are probably times when I don't give you answers to your questions.

Negative Enquiry

This assertiveness technique seeks out criticism about yourself in close relationships by prompting the expression of honest, negative feelings to improve communication. To use it effectively you need to listen for critical comments, clarify your understanding of those criticisms, use the information if it will be helpful or ignore the information if it is manipulative.

An example of this assertiveness technique would be:

"So you think/believe that I am not interested?"

Negative Assertion

This assertiveness technique lets you look more comfortably at negatives in your own behaviour or personality without feeling defensive or anxious, this also reduces your critics' hostility. You should accept your errors or faults, but not apologise. Instead, tentatively and sympathetically agree with hostile criticism of your negative qualities.

An example would be:

"Yes, you're right. I don't always listen closely to what you have to say."

Workable Compromise

When you feel that your self-respect is not in question, consider a workable compromise with the other person. You can always bargain for your material goals unless the compromise affects your personal feelings of self-respect. However, if the end goal involves a matter of your self-worth and self-respect, THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE.

An example of this assertiveness technique would be:

"I understand that you have a need to talk and I need to finish what I'm doing. So what about meeting in half an hour?"

Conclusion

Assertive behaviour is a useful communication tool. Its application is contextual and it's not appropriate to be assertive in all situations. Remember, your sudden use of assertiveness may be perceived as an act of aggression by others.There's also no guarantee of success, even when you use assertive communication styles appropriately.

"Nothing on earth can stop the individual with the right mental attitude from achieving their goal; nothing on earth can help the individual with the wrong mental attitude" - W.W. Ziege

When you match consumer psychology with effective communication styles you get a powerful combination.

Source: Article contributed by Lee Hopkins

What is an example of assertive communication?

Here are a few examples of assertive communication:

• "I completely understand what you’re saying but I have to disagree”

• “I feel frustrated when you are late for meetings. I don't like having to repeat information."

• “Could you explain the reasoning behind your decision, so I can try to understand what you’re doing”

• "I understand that you have a need to talk and I need to finish what I'm doing. So what about meeting in half an hour?"

• “I want you to help me with this report”

• “Can you suggest a time we can talk about the missed deadline. I’m concerned”

How To Be Assertive

Here are some useful guidelines to ensure your successful use of an assertive communication style:

Ask permission to have the conversation.

Example:

Do you have some time so I can talk to you about something that's been bothering me?

Reinforce relationship: Optional depending upon previous rapport.

Example:

I want us to have a good working relationship so that's why I wanted to discuss with you any potential conflict we might have and sort it out.

1) I Feel ____________________________________

(feeling word)

Example:

I feel upset when you ___________________________

2) Description of unwanted behavior

Example:

Interrupts me when I'm talking.

3) Description of wanted behavior

Example:

I rather we not interrupt each other so we both can best listen to what the other is saying.

4) Potential consequence (optional for when others aren't immediately cooperative)

Example:

If you can't refrain from interjecting, I won't talk to you at this time because there is just no point.

4 Types of Communication

Assertive

Respects others rights and sticks up for self

confident / leads by example / earns others respect / straight forward / honest / values self and others / problem solver / solution focused / looks for win-win outcomes / merit based / collaborative / open to others perspective / takes responsibility for own behavior / can ask for help / can respectfully disagree / stable but developing identity / able to dialogue / secure / shares / takes reasonable risks

Passive

Respects others and doesn't stick up for self

meek / weak / sad / dependent / victim / low self-esteem / seeks others to protect them or solve their problems / selfless / followers / adjusts themselves to meet others expectations / martyrs / internalizes negative statements about them / helpless / fearful / givers / indecisive / doesn't take responsibility / not a risk taker / feels inferior / blames self for everything

Aggressive

Violates other's rights and sticks up for self

boasts / arguers / tries to win at all costs / demeaning / abusive / respects power / coercion / punishment / blames / threatens / looking out for #1 / name calling / looks to attack another's character / listens only for information to support their claim and to discount others claim / values self over others / adversarial / exaggerates / uses "survival of fittest" to justify their transgressions / anger / offensive / demanding / blaming / authoritarian / takers / risk takers / feels superior / challenges all possible threats

Passive Aggressive

Violates others and doesn't stick up for self

manipulators / cheaters / gossips / sabotage / cheaters / vandalism / backstabbers / sarcasm / easily perceived slights / instigators / resentful / paranoia / puppet masters / plausible / deniability / two faced / develops alliances against others / feels superior but that they don't get their due / strategic / avoidant of direct conflict / complainers / bitter / miserable / doesn't disclose true feelings

Assertive Communication

Practice

Tip: Before responding, consider what your wants and needs might be in each situation. Grab a piece of blank paper and write down what your Assertive Response would be to each of the situations below.

Your Partner: "I know you have plans for the weekend, but I really need you to watch the kids. I have a friend coming to town, and we made plans."

Assertive Response:

__________________________________________

Situation: You've just received your food at a restaurant, and it was prepared incorrectly. Your sandwich seems to have extra mayo, instead of no mayo.

Assertive Statement:

_________________________

Your Friend: "Hey, can I borrow some money? I want to buy these shoes, but I left my wallet at home. I'll pay you back soon, I swear. It won't be like last time."

Assertive Response:

_________________________________

Situation: Your neighbor is adding an expansion to their house, and the crew starts working, very loudly at 5 A.M. It has woken you up every day for a week.

Assertive Statement:

____________________________

Source: TherapistAid.com

Why is assertive communication an effective strategy?

Not only does assertive communication help us express our views and achieve goals but do so without hurting or alienating others. It’s the key to developing mutual respect for each other.

What is the difference between assertive and aggressive communication?

Assertive communication is conveying your message in a direct but accepting and respectful way. Aggressive communication, on the other hand, is speaking in a disrespectful, arrogant, and bossy way.

How to develop assertive communication skills?

Practice, practice, practice! You need to work on your eye contact and body language, practice controlling your voice, and communicating in a direct but non-aggressive manner. You can also take an assertiveness course and further develop your skills.

What are the 3 C's of assertive communication?

Confidence: you are composed and believe in yourself and what you’re saying

Clarity: your message is clear and easy to understand

Control: You are in control of the situation and are monitoring what’s happening

Source: Impact Factory

Mama Joy's Top 10 DOCUMENTARY Recommendations

10) Billie Eilish - The World’s A Little Blurry (AppleTV+) - This is a 2021 American documentary film centered around singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and is an intimate look at the singer-songwriter's journey, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home. The film reveals the behind the scenes creation process of Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, with the title referencing a lyric from the album track "Ilomilo".

9) Hello, Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea (Netflix) - Chelsea Handler explores how white privilege impacts American culture and the ways it's benefited her life and career.

8) Kiss The Ground - (Netflix) - A revolutionary group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians band together in a global movement of "Regenerative Agriculture" that could balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. There are so many absolutely brilliant minds speaking in this documentary whose voices must be heard. There are however a few familiar faces in the documentary like:

Woody Harrelson, actor & environmental activist who is especially concerned about deforestation is the narrator of the documentary.

Dr. Mark Hyman is a practicing family physician and an internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of Functional Medicine. He is the founder and director of The UltraWellness Center, the Head of Strategy and Innovation of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, a thirteen-time New York Times bestselling author, and Board President for Clinical Affairs for The Institute for Functional Medicine.

Gisele Bündchen is a Brazilian model, activist, and businesswoman. In 2014, Bündchen was listed as the 89th Most Powerful Woman in the World by Forbes. She has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program since 2009. She has been an advocate for Project Drawdown and other important environmental causes. She is an executive producer of Kiss the Ground.

Jason Mraz is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and Agroforestry Farmer. Mraz has won two Grammy Awards and received two additional nominations, and has also won two Teen Choice Awards, a People’s Choice Award and the Hal David Songwriters Hall of Fame Award. The Jason Mraz Foundation was established in 2011, with a mission to support charities in the areas of human equality, environment preservation and education. Mraz wrote a song exclusively for the Kiss the Ground movie entitled “Kiss the Ground.” It plays as the last song during the credit roll.

Ian Somerhalder is an actor, activist and director. He is known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama Lost, Damon Salvatore in The CW’s supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries and Dr. Luther Swann in Netflix’s sci-fi horror series V Wars. Somerhalder was involved in the cleanup after the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling disaster on April 22, 2010. He shot the initial footage for Kiss the Ground in Africa in 2011 with Allan Savory.

David Arquette is an American actor, director, producer, and fashion designer. In acting, he is best known for his role as Dewey Riley in the slasher film franchise Scream, for which he won a Teen Choice Award and two Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. He is also an active environmentalist and along with his sister Patricia, works with Givelove.org to promote thermophilic composting toilets.

TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND HOME-SCHOOLERS

Thanks to a generous grant from the Bia Echo Foundation and Triptyk, there is a free 45-minute-long Educational Version of the Kiss the Ground movie and also a free DVD with both the 85 minute long feature and the educational cut on one disk. Just click HERE to find out more!

HOST A SCREENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Join us in spreading the news about regeneration by hosting a screening at your local farm or in your community. Go HERE for more information on how to get started!

Learn even more HERE .

7) The Me You Can't See (AppleTV+) - Season: 1, 6 Episodes - Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry join forces to guide honest discussions about mental health. This series features illuminating stories from across the globe, giving us the opportunity to seek truth, understanding, and a newfound hope for the future.

Episode 1: "Say It Out Loud" (featuring Lady Gaga) Synopsis: Millions of people around the globe struggle with mental illness in silence. In order to heal, the silence must be broken - and now is the time.

Episode 2: "Asking for Help" - Synopsis: The pain, suffering and urgent need for help is universal - and the simple act of sharing is a powerful first step.

Episode 3: "Finding What Works"- Synopsis: Mental health is about people, not patients. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting the right kind of help.

Episode 4: "We Need Each Other" - Synopsis: No one heals alone. By caring for each other, communities shape a powerful route to sustainable recovery.

Episode 5: "This Is Me" (featuring Prince Harry) - Synopsis: The road to recovery isn't a straight line. Challenges are inevitable, but hope for each of us lies in awareness, acceptance and action.

Episode 6: "A Path Forward" - Synopsis: Oprah and Prince Harry reunite with advisors and participants for a wide-ranging conversation about mental health and where we go from here.

6) RBG (Hulu) - RBG is a 2018 American documentary film focusing on the exceptional life and career of second female U.S. Supreme Court Justice (after Sandra Day O'Connor), Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.

It was chosen by the National Board of Review as the Best Documentary Film of 2018, and nominated for several other awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary. At the 91st Academy Awards, the film earned nominations for Best Documentary Feature and Best Original Song ("I'll Fight") which is performed by Jennifer Hudson with music and lyrics by Diane Warren, plays over the end credits.

5) I Am Greta (Hulu)

The documentary follows Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate activist from Sweden, on her international crusade to get people to listen to scientists about the world's environmental problems.

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who is internationally known for challenging world

leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation. Thunberg initially gained notice for her youth and her straightforward speaking manner, both in public and to political leaders and assemblies, in which she criticises world leaders for their failure to take what she considers sufficient action to address the climate crisis.

Thunberg's activism began by persuading her parents to adopt lifestyle choices that reduced their own carbon footprint.

In August 2018, at age 15, she started spending her school days outside the Swedish Parliament to call for stronger action on climate change by holding up a sign reading Skolstrejk för klimatet (School strike for climate).

Soon other students engaged in similar protests in their own communities. Together they organised a school climate strike movement under the name Fridays for Future. After Thunberg addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, student strikes took place every week somewhere in the world.

In 2019, there were multiple coordinated multi-city protests involving over a million students each. To avoid energy intensive flying, Thunberg sailed to North America where she attended the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit. Her speech there, in which she exclaimed "how dare you", was widely taken up by the press and incorporated into music.

Her sudden rise to world fame has made her both a leader and a target for critics, especially due to her age. Her influence on the world stage has been described by The Guardian and other newspapers as the "Greta effect".

Greta Thunberg received numerous honours and awards, including an honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, inclusion in Time's 100 most influential people, being the youngest Time Person of the Year, inclusion in the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), and three consecutive nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize (2019–2021).

4) Seaspiracy (Netflix)

A 2021 documentary film about the environmental impact of fishing directed by and starring Ali Tabrizi, a British filmmaker. Some organisations and individuals interviewed or depicted in the documentary film have disputed its assertions and have accused the film of misrepresenting them. The film was produced by Kip Anderson, director of the documentary Cowspiracy.

The film features human impacts on marine life such as plastic marine debris, ghost nets and overfishing around the world. It argues that commercial fisheries are the main driver of marine ecosystem destruction. Seaspiracy rejects the concept of sustainable fishing and criticises several marine conservation organisations, including the Earth Island Institute and its dolphin safe label and the sustainable seafood certifications of the Marine Stewardship Council. It also criticises efforts by organisations to reduce household plastic given the impact of ghost nets. It accuses these initiatives of being a cover-up for the environmental impact of fishing and corruption in the fishing industry.

The film advocates for marine reserves and the elimination of fish consumption. The documentary also covers the Taiji dolphin drive hunt, whaling in the Faroe Islands, and modern slavery within the fishing industry in Thailand.

3) Unladylike2020: The Changemakers (PBS)

Timed with the 2020 women's suffrage centennial, American Masters - Unladylike2020: The Changemakers takes a look at little-known and diverse female trailblazers whose courage and tenacity 100 years ago shaped the political life and future of this nation. These women achieved many firsts, including earning an international pilot’s license, becoming a bank president, founding a hospital, fighting for the desegregation of public spaces, exploring the Arctic, opening a film studio, and singing opera at Carnegie Hall. Their accomplishments were instrumental in accomplishing voting rights for women -- but also in improving the quality of life for all citizens.

This hour-long PBS American Masters animated documentary film will present profiles of women trailblazers who were active in government, civil rights, and citizenship rights, behaving in ways that placed them outside the mainstream of expected behaviors for 'ladies' at the turn of the 20th century. They include: Martha Hughes Cannon, the country's first female state senator; Jovita Idar, a journalist, and president of one of the first Mexican American women's civil rights organizations; Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress; Mary Church Terrell, a leader in the anti-lynching movement and a founder of the NAACP; and Zitkála-Sá, aka Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, who lobbied for U.S. citizenship, voting rights and sovereignty for American Indians a century ago.

Presenting history in a bold new way, Unladylike2020, produced and directed by Charlotte Mangin, brings these incredible stories back to life through original artwork and animation, rare historical archival footage, and interviews with descendants, historians and accomplished modern women who reflect upon the influence of these pioneers. (Note: Thank you to Gina Blume of Out of The Box, for sharing this extraordinary documentary and discussion with my daughter, Nicole and I)

2) Your Attention Please (Hulu) - 2 Seasons

Hosted by Craig Robinson (from The Office), this series introduces us to Black innovators and creators who are working to leave the world better than they found it. Each episode features three Black creatives from multiple disciplines. Each of them are pushing boundaries in their field and blazing the trail for the new generation!

The first entry into the new series centers on three awesome creators you should already know. First, tech entrepreneur Iddris Sandu who established the first smart retail store experience alongside the late Nipsey Hussle; dancer and movement artist Jon Boogz and M.A.I. movement; and New York Times #1 Bestselling author of the spectacular Children of Blood and Bone, Tomi Adeyemi.

In the words of Hulu:

“These artists give us a glimpse into their personal journeys – in tech, dance, and literature.”

1) Far From The Tree (Hulu)

Based on the NY Times bestselling book by Andrew Solomon, Far from the Tree examines the experiences of families in which parents and children are profoundly different from one another in a variety of ways.

Parents of children who have Down syndrome, dwarfism or autism share intimate stories of the challenges they face.