NYC WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

NYC SINGLE IN STILETTOS CONFERENCE

We hear it from the day we're born -- love, yourself, love yourself, love yourself -- but we don't know what that means. The main reason we don't know what it means is that the people telling it to us don't know what it means either. Our mothers and fathers can't teach us to love ourselves if they didn't know how to love themselves.

Loving ourselves truly and unconditionally has nothing to do with ego. Self love is not about how amazing your job is, how you wear your hair, how many degrees or facebook friends you have, whether you have the right bag or shoes; or how many times you can use the word fabulous to describe your life. Loving you is about knowing deep in your soul that no matter what happens, you are enough. When you love you you're meticulous about the foods and substances you put into your body and the people and distractions you allow into your life.

We get trapped by our stories. We secretly feel that we are our gender, our race, our social status, our educational level when we are so much more. Our stories are noble and worthy, but we are not just victims and survivors.

The condition of your life circumstances are a mirror, showing exactly what you think of yourself. If you think that you are unworthy, undeserving, unable, your life will reflect that. The real truth is that you deserve more. You are worthy and more powerful than you can imagine. There is an incredible life waiting for you.

Let's talk about rising up to meet it. Yeah!!

Sexual Assault Awareness Month & Advocacy for Survivors

In 2011 the president proclaimed April to be National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This ground-breaking era was launched with these words: "Our Nation must continue to confront rape and other forms of sexual violence as a deplorable crime. Too many victims suffer unaided, and too many offenders elude justice. As we mark National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we recommit to building a society where no woman, man, or child endures the fear of assault or the pain of an attack on their physical well being and basic human dignity."

Here are the facts: One out of six American women and one out of thirty-three men report that they've experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. That stat does not include those who have been sexually assaulted or verbally harassed on the street. Those numbers also don't include those who have been sexually harassed or stalked online.

A few years ago Abiola Abrams created the Until the Violence Stops Film Festival in association with Eve Ensler's VDay. Ensler also included one of abiola's monologues about sexual assault in her anthology "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer" which also contains the activist writing of Maya Angelou and Jane Fonda.

Sexual violence can be committed by an intimate partner, a friend or acquaintance, a family member, a person in position of power or trust, or a stranger. Sexual violence in the form of street harassment or cyber bullying can intersect with our lives on a daily basis.

Abiola will talk about what sexual assault is and the power of bystanders. She will also discuss cyber assault such as taping and broadcasting a roommate or friend or seemingly harmless harassment with facebook photos. Many victims feel as though they don't have access to services so we'll discuss options as well as the boys will be boys attitude.Abiola also talks to would be assaulter, harassers and rapists with this speech about a zero tolerance zone.

This is not a woman's problem this is a people problem, Let's talk about it, educate ourselves and get empowered. The talk is interactive as Abiola makes the audience Q&A an important part of the event. Questions can be asked during the speech, in advance anonymously or via text anonymously during the talk. 

Adult Sex Ed 101 

Let's talk about sex, baby. Abiola Abrams starts at the beginning. Even if you think you know all there is to know about sex, you don't. This is a fun, informative and empowering multimedia talk. Topics include safe sex, good sex, female orgasm, better interpersonal relationships, GLBTQ facts and even dating advice.

Why is pleasure such a forbidden topic? Let's go... there! Toys and orgasms and anatomy, oh my! For Abiola safe sex means sex that is safe mentally as well as physically. We discuss HIV and STD prevention and we also talk about self esteem. This inclusive talk is appropriate for every gender and sexual orientation. Abiola is expanding her "Cover Your Bone Zone" safe sex pledge to be more inclusive. So far, the only person who has refused to take her safe sex pledge was the rapper-actor Ludicris! He said that he wanted his lawyer to look at it first.

Ask Abiola anything. We don't even allow embarrassment to enter the room! The talk is interactive as Abiola makes the audience Q&A an important part of the event. Questions can be asked during the speech, in advance anonymously or via text anonymously during the talk.

You could go up to any person in the world and say, "Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry about what you're going through" and they would say, "Who told you?" The past few years have been challenging for all of us but one could say that this is just part of being an adult. None of us will make it out alive. Nonetheless, we have reasons to celebration. There has been a great deal of discussion about 2012 being the end of the world but Abiola says no, this is just the beginning.

It is a lie and a gross misjudgement to assume that because there is a black family in the White House that America is post-racial. But no matter your race, cultural background or gender, there are specific tools to employ that will allow you not only to overcome and survive, but to achieve and thrive.

Daughter of Guyanese immigrants, Abiola will present a fun motivational talk filled with concrete advice and inspiring historical references on how to break through barriers and smash glass ceilings. Never mind the odds and statistics. Odds mean nothing when you have nothing to lose but everything. This is the moment where it would be more painful to remain closed tight in a bud than it would be to grow.

Last year we saw the overthrow of supposedly immovable powers worldwide. This year there is an American presidential election. It is more important than ever that you stand up and be counted. You may look at Big Media and feel powerless but you have more power than you can imagine. This is the time to Occupy Everything, and Abiola will tell you how.

NYU KEYNOTE; MULTIMEDIA

SAFE SEX VLOG

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