Soprano Karen Parks on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week." Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as "Women’s History Week." In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month." Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

As well continue to discuss phenomenal women throughout the month of March, please join Living Your Best Life in partnership with Mocha Market Magazine on Saturday, March 24, 2012 to hear Soprano Karen Parks share about her life, her musical career, her work with young performers and what keeps her inspired. She will also share about her upcoming performance at Lipscomb University. The Greenville, South Carolina native made her historic recording tribute to Harry T. Burleigh's body of work in Nashville. Nobody Knows: Songs of Harry T. Burleigh, co-produced by Parks and Grammy-winning producer David Macias, debuted at #2 on Billboard's Traditional Classical Album Chart upon its 2008 release. Karen Parks divinely given voice has been heard around the world.

Ms. Parks has performed in major opera houses and concert halls in many European countries including Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, England, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Hungary and Estonia. Her performances in America include debuts with recognized orchestras and conductors including Carnegie Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Kennedy Center, Meyerson Hall, San Francisco Opera, The Boston Pops and The Nashville Symphony. Other roles and works with various companies and orchestras include Verdi’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mahler’s Second Symphony, Dvořák’s Te Deum, Bach’s Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Mařenka in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, and the role of Harriet Tubman in two different operas (Harriet and Frederick Douglass). By special commission, she was the first artist to record an English language album (Nocturne) of Finnish classical music from Finnish poetry.

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers inspires, and motivates one to live their BEST life, can be heard on 760 The Gospel in the Middle Tennessee region, Inspirational Networks, and military bases. Living Your Best Life is also streamed live on www.UStream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Karen Parks' Lipscomb Performance
Soprano Karen Parks will perform along with Lipscomb University's Jerome Reed, the Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair in Piano as part of the Artist Series. Parks will perform works by Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Brahms, Faure, Puccini, Gershwin and a set of traditional spirituals arranged by Harry T. Burleigh.

Parks will conduct a Master Class on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. The soprano virtuoso will present a concert on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Both events will be held in Lipscomb University's Ward Hall. Tickets for Saturday's concert may be purchased online or at the door.

$15 adults, $10 students, Free with student ID.

Text INSPIRE to 99000 to win tickets to the concert, copies of Harry T. Burleigh's compositions, tickets to the Nashville Symphony, or a membership to the Frist Center.




(I would like to thank Honorable William J. Zick for his extensive research on www.africlassical.com that led me to spending hours studying such fascinating musician who stories must be told.

Dr. Norma Burgess and Jennifer Abernathy on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

February is often known as the month of love. Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes in partnership with Mocha Market Magazine as we discuss loving yourself, your family, and your community better. Hear personal stories from couples who radiate with love for one another as well as random calls to individuals Genma love to talk to and have written about over the years. We will also profile events that will enrich your community and empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your best life.

Join us on Saturday, February 25, 2012, to hear two dynamic women share about their passion for helping others. Dr. Norma Burgess, the Founding Dean of Lipscomb University's College of Arts and Sciences, will discuss Lipscomb's upcoming Women's Leadership conference. The conference, in its sophomore year, promises to be as electrifying as the inaugural event.

We will also hear from Jennifer Abernathy, the executive director of Tennessee Respite. Jennifer will share how Tennessee Respite Coalition wants to help strengthen families by helping provide assistance for the caretakers. We will learn about the organization and its mission to enhance the quality of life for family caregivers through respite.

Living Your Best Life can be heard on Saturdays from 9:00-10:00AM on 760AM, on military bases, and Ustream.TV.

More About Dr. Norma Burgess

Dr. Norma Burgess is the founding dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Burgess previously worked at Chatham University, Pittsburgh, where she was founding dean of the College of Graduate Studies. In that role, she was responsible for every aspect of graduate education, including new program development, faculty evaluation, budgetary management, academic management, and faculty and support services.

From 1993-2007 at Syracuse University, Burgess earned the rank of full professor and chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies and was academic co-chair of the Bachelor of Professional Studies program. She has also served as a visiting professor for the University of the Aegean in Rhodes, Greece, and as a member of the summer faculty at Cornell University. Dr. Burgess is a widely published scholar with a focus on work and family and leadership development.

Burgess has served as chair of the women’s caucus of the American Association of Higher Education and is currently a board member at-large of the National Council on Family Relations. She is co-author of African American Women: An Ecological Perspective and numerous articles and other writings on work and family life, leadership, faculty development and workplace diversity.

Burgess holds a doctorate in sociology and a master’s degree in public affairs from North Carolina State University as well as a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Tennessee. She is a native of Stanton, Tenn.

To learn more about Lipscomb Women's Conference click here.

More About Jennifer Abernathy and Tennessee Respite

Jennifer Abernathy is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Respite Coalition, an organization that provides respite services and information to family caregivers across the state. She has diverse professional experience working in the fields of disability, mental health, volunteer management, senior services, and higher education.

The Tennessee Respite Coalition (TRC) provides relief to families and caregivers from the extraordinary and intensive demands of providing ongoing care for loved one.

Over the past year, the Tennessee Respite Coalition has provided access to respite to over 200 families across the state of Tennessee. The services that these families have been provided have enabled them to continue to care for their loved ones in their homes as well as get a much needed break from the everyday stresses associated with being a primary caregiver for someone in need and in a vulnerable state. For more info Tennessee Respite click here.

Scholars Raising Our Social Consciousness

This week, On Living Your Best Life Radio Show with Genma Holmes:
Scholars Raising Our Social Consciousness

Dr. Boyce Watkins of Syracuse University, Dr. Norma Burgess of Lipscomb University and Veterans Liaison David K. Hughes




Dr. Boyce D. Watkins is an American author, economist, political analyst, and social commentator. Formerly a member of the finance faculty, and currently a Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University, he also is a Distinguished Scholar with the Barbara Jordan Institute for Policy Research, and was previously a Visiting Fellow at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and the Center for European Economic Research (Mannheim, Germany). Watkins is also a faculty affiliate with the College Sports Research Institute at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has authored several financial advice books, including "Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with your Partner in Ways that Feel Good", "Black American Money," as well as "What if George Bush were a Black Man?"; his work has also appeared in such publications as the Journal Of Small Business Management, and The Journal of Economics and Business.

In addition to publishing scholarly articles on finance and investing, Watkins is an advocate for education, economic empowerment, and social justice, and has made regular appearances in various national media outlets, including CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Fox News, BET, NPR, Essence Magazine, USA Today, The Today Show, ESPN, The Tom Joyner Morning Show and CBS Sports. He is also a frequent guest on, The Wendy Williams Experience radio program. Watkins is also a frequent contributor to theGrio and TheLoop21.com.



Norma Burgess
Dean

Dr. Norma Burgess is the founding dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Burgess previously worked at Chatham University, Pittsburgh, where she was founding dean of the College of Graduate Studies. In that role, she was responsible for every aspect of graduate education, including new program development, faculty evaluation, budgetary management, academic management, and faculty and support services.

From 1993-2007 at Syracuse University, Burgess earned the rank of full professor and chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies and was academic co-chair of the Bachelor of Professional Studies program. She has also served as a visiting professor for the University of the Aegean in Rhodes, Greece, and as a member of the summer faculty at Cornell University. Dr. Burgess is a widely published scholar with a focus on work and family and leadership development.

Burgess has served as chair of the women’s caucus of the American Association of Higher Education and is currently a board member at-large of the National Council on Family Relations. She is co-author of African American Women: An Ecological Perspective and numerous articles and other writings on work and family life, leadership, faculty development and workplace diversity.

Burgess holds a doctorate in sociology and a master’s degree in public affairs from North Carolina State University as well as a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Tennessee. She is a native of Stanton, Tenn.


David K. Hughes,
The Yellow Ribbon Program

An active member of the military for more than ten years, David K. Hughes is Lipscomb University’s Veterans Liaison. Hughes, a retired Captain who served with United States Army Special Forces in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, brings his unique experience to this role. Hughes works as an advocate for all veterans who enroll at Lipscomb University to ensure quality and efficient negotiation of the undergraduate pipeline.



Living Your Best Life Radio can be heard on on 880 AM "The Big Mouth" and on Ustream.tv @ http://bit.ly/liEfqo
Show Airs Saturday, Aug. 6 from 10-12 CST

Lipscomb's Women Conference Is A Huge Success

Gloria Mayfield Banks Genma Holmes Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet






















Several months ago, I met with the founding dean of the college of arts and sciences at Lipscomb University, Dr. Norma Burgess. She wanted to discuss an upcoming women’s conference. As she talked excitedly about topics of leadership and faith, I wanted to scream, “Noooo!” Every organ in my body begged to yell out, not another church folk conference with a bunch of women spouting yaky, yaky. Sensing my dismay, Dr. Burgess said, “This is going to be different, you will see.” She was extremely confident while I had flashbacks of several recent encounters dancing in my head. I told Dr. Burgess I am was sick of folks planning and meeting but not accomplishing anything while leaving an awful taste in my mouth at the same time wasting time and energy. Was I negative or what?

She gave me the look of a mother who loves her child, flaws and all, and continued to talk about her big bodacious plans for an event as if I never said a word. Gloria Mayfield Banks, Mary Kay’s 24 million dollar pint size tornado selling machine would be the headliner. What? I was intrigued right away. As if that was not enough, she said the luncheon keynote would be the great, great granddaughter of the signer of the Navajo Treaty of 1868. Wait a minute, a black woman multi-millionaire and a Navajo Indian Chief’s great, great granddaughter speaking at a conference in Nashville on leadership and faith? This I got to see! “I am in,” I said. She also gave me my assignment to spread the news. That was it. No selling tables, chasing down sponsors or media hype needed.“Share this with anyone you would want to be there”, she said smiling. Hmm. That was not what I was expecting her to say. Don’t get too excited I told myself, you are going to be thoroughly disappointed if you do. Have I been burned or what? But Dr. Burgess gentleness and surprised list of speakers left me speechless and I promised her I would tell everyone. That I did.

Why was I surprised? This was the Dr. Burgess’s style that I have come to know and love; quiet class that leave one yearning for more of her sensibility, knowledge, and devotion to others. For those of you who do not know her, Dr. Burgess was born and raised in West Tennessee. She is known for her research and teaching focused on the sociology of the family, sex roles, and gender and cross-cultural families. She has taught at several colleges and universities including Mississippi State and Syracuse. She conducted research on women at the Center for Research on Women at the University of Memphis (then Memphis State). She has led study abroad classes in Costa Rica and presented her work in Africa, Greece, United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany and was the founding dean of the college of graduate studies at Chatham University in Pennsylvania. Her decision to accept the position at Lipscomb was a homecoming of sorts. After years of traveling the world while teaching and lecturing to thousands, she was back on Tennessee soil. Dr. Burgess began her servant leadership role at Lipscomb over a year ago with a goal for the conference to become an annual event at the heart of her mission. Dr. Burgess stated, “Faith and its role in leadership and self management are rarely discussed in professional development seminars and retreats”. The long awaited conference rightly titled, Women. Leadership. Faith, arrived Friday with much anticipation. Moms, wives, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and students from various backgrounds, careers and professions, denominations and faiths arrived on campus ready to soak up the carefully planned event like sponges.

Gloria Mayfield Banks kicked off the morning with her fiery brand of getting a group excited about God, family, and career. But she did not leave out her struggles. Her transparency about being a battered wife gave the audience a peek into a world that many would never share in church let alone at professional conference about empowering women. There was nothing superficial about Gloria. Her faith in God and her belief in herself pulled her through the darkest period of her life. After leaving an abusive marriage and a six figure income with IBM, twenty years later she currently holds the number four Mary Kay unit in the world!

The luncheon keynote, Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, President of Antioch University, is the first Native American woman to become the president of an accredited university outside the tribal college system. She greeted us in her Navajo language and said a prayer to her ancestors before she began her message about, “Grounded and Centered: Generational Power of Family Wisdom in the Workplace”. Her soft spoken voice did not hide her strength and courage as a tribal leader in her culture but a leader by mainstream society’s measurements. She said that when her great, great grandfather, Navjo Chief Manuelito signed the treaty, he knew that education was the next frontier for his people’s survival. She has held strongly to that belief and works endlessly to address the despairing statistics among Native Americans in areas of education and poverty. Her conviction about families and communities coming together was repeated as she gave us personal reflections about being the only Native American family in a redneck town in Wyoming that was subjected to abuse and mistreatment by the townspeople. Her message was not one of despair but of inspiration that left many of us looking at our lack faith in our lives daily. Many attendees stated that “Dr. Cassandra” words left us with no excuses for making changes immediately.

Local women leaders spoke during breakout sessions and the conference was followed by thousands on Twitter, Facebook, and in chat rooms on colleges and universities campuses, and women’s magazine forums around the country.

“Women.Leadership.Faith” concluded with thunderous applause by all in attendance. Whispers about the 2011 conference could be overheard as the women left Ezell Center. I left with a new found appreciation for “your past experiences should not dictate your present state of being”. Had I allowed previous interactions to cloud my thinking, I would have missed a conference that was more than different, it was life changing!

Photo Credits: Kristi Jones/Lipscomb University
Article first published as A Report from the First "Women, Leadership, Faith” Conference on Blogcritics.

Lipscomb's Conference Lineup