December 1, 2022

The holidays are upon us, and 2023 is just a month away.  This year has been one filled with challenges.  Yet, each morning when awakening, I relish in another day of life.  No matter the hardships, there is always a silver lining in the clouds.  Our newsletters and news updates’ titles remind us of this.  We rise above and beyond the clouds.  Stepping out of bed, I’m reminded that is a blessing to plant my feet on the floor, stand, move about, and go about my day.

Last month, a dear Sister friend invited my family and me to a CeCe Winans' concert at her church.  Before that evening, I wasn’t very familiar with Pastor Winans’ music, however, I’d enjoyed her brother BeBe’s for years.  The church’s sanctuary was filled with the Holy Spirit.  There were tears of joy, hand-clapping, and foot-stomping.  The racially and ethnically mixed audience included individuals of all ability levels who represented communities across the state.  None of us focused on our inconsequential differences and instead, enjoyed togetherness.  

As we gather with family and friends this holiday season or spend it alone, click on the Youtube link to Sister CeCe’s melodic and soul-stirring poetic videos, "Goodness of God" and "Believe for It: You said and I believe." Whether or not you're a Believer, it will touch you in a space deep down within your spirit.  From my family to yours, blessed holidays!

Sister-to-Sister, Inc. is privileged to announce its receipt of a grant from The Argosy Foundation, to support operations and programming. Click the link below to learn more about this impactful foundation.

Tackling the Devastating Effects of Black Maternal and Infant Mortality

When a Black mother dies, there is a ripple effect. Every year, a disproportionate number of Black women are failed by the U.S. maternal health system. Shamony Gibson and Amber Rose Isaac died due to childbirth complications. Now, their partners and families sound a rallying cry around this crisis. Producers & Directors: Tonya Lewis Lee, Paula Eiselt Sundance Film Festival Winner.

Join us at Sister-to-Sister, Inc.'s free screening of the documentary on January 21, 2003 and its February 25, 2023 fundraising event that will raise public consciousness of a top issue plaguing Black communities and hence, society. Proceeds will support programming related to eradicating racial and health disparities resulting in untimely mortality, other women and children focused programming, and student scholarships. See "Sister-to-Sister, Inc. Towards Health Equity: Saving Lives of Black Mothers & Infants" promotional video under the fundraiser 'Save the Date' below for more info.

Who did you love today? Will you share yours with those that you don't know?

Sister-to-Sister: 

International Network of Professional African American Women, Inc.

  Family & Friends Kwanza & Christmas Potluck Celebration

Saturday, December 10, 2022, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

14076 McKay Park Circle Broomfield, Colorado 80023

If you are attending, please email Sister Bobbie Harbert, Secretary/Treasurer at bobbie.harbert.sister.to.sister@gmail.com no later than Friday, December 2, 2023.  Share the name of any guests that you’re bringing. Click on link below to find traditional Kwanzaa dishes. Please  see the link below and bring a traditional Kwanzaa food item to share.  Desserts and drinks will be provided. This will be a family gathering welcoming spouses and children.

Bobbie.Harbert.sister.to.sister@gmail.com

We are strivers, continually stretching ourselves to better the communities in which live. This month, we applaud Sister-to-Sister, Inc. Board Director and Secretary/Treasurers Sister Bobbie Harbert. Sister Bobbie, creator of Koinonia, a tax-exempt nonprofit that serves youth, was recently recognized by the Black Resilience in Colorado Fund (BRIC). Hats off to you for all of the work that you do, Sister Bobbie!

Sister-to-Sister, Inc. Board Director and distinguished graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law Alexis Walker-Dunham Jackson has been admitted to practice law in Colorado. Sister Alexis is employed with the international legal firm of Faegre, Drinker, Biddle, & Reath, where she is an Associate Attorney practicing in the area of commercial real estate transactions.

Sister-to-Sister, Inc. Advisory Council Member Taylor Hill John, a distinguished graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law, is now licensed to practice law in Colorado. Sister Taylor is employed as an Associate Attorney at Sherman & Howard, LLP, Denver's oldest law firm, where she is a member of the firm's Business and Real Estate practice group.

Sister-to-Sister, Inc. supports women-focused service organizations.

Photo from the 2022 Colorado Black Women for Political Action Scholarship & Awards Luncheon

Pictured from left to right Sisters Camille, Deborah, Velveta, Junie, Colleen, and Bobbie. Hats off to Sisters Junie, Colorado's youngest incoming state legislator and Sister Colleen, the first Black president of the Front Range (Colorado) Community College System! Also, hats offer to ACLU Colorado's first Black Executive Director who has led the affiliate to an exceptional year of accomplishments.

Photo from the annual 2022 Colorado Women's Foundation

Fundraising Luncheon

Pictured from left to right, Sisters Kathy, Bobbie, Velveta, Sherlenia, Dianne, Sherry, and Jane.

How to Avoid Family Stress During the Holidays

By Sandra Thébaud, Ph.D.

The holidays are coming up and you have to go visit your family or they’re coming to visit you.   How do you keep from stressing out and having the holidays turn into a nightmare?

  Dealing with family is a tough issue because we’re surrounded by images of happy, loving, seemingly perfect families that always seem to get along or, at least, always resolve their issues amicably.  This can lead us to expect the same from our family members even though this has never been the case before in the past.  These images of the perfect family enjoying a perfect holiday together can be so strong that we expect our family members to miraculously be different than who they have been all along.

Awareness is the key to effectively managing stress.  You can’t deal with anything effectively without first being aware of exactly what the problem is.  

3 Steps to Dealing with Family

Step 1: Take an accurate assessment of your family members.  You know what your family members are like.  Write down both their positive and negative qualities.  When we’re around people who can easily annoy or upset us, it is easy to only see their negative side.  It’s important to remind yourself of their positive side as well.  

 Step 2: Accept them for who they are.  Expecting them to be something they’re not will lead to disappointment.  This is part of the reason why we have difficulty being around our family for too long.  After a while, we wish they would change the things we don’t like about them.  Accept both their positive and their negative qualities.  

Step 3: If you’re having trouble finding positive qualities about them, ask a good friend to help you reframe some of the negative qualities and find a silver lining in them.

  You may have done a good job of being able to love your family from afar.  But thanks to the holidays, a lot of people feel like they have to be around their family even though they can be toxic to their emotional and mental health.  The key is to strike a balance between loving your family members and keeping yourself sane.  Here are some strategies for keeping a good relationship with them while minimizing your negative interactions with them.

3 Strategies for being around Family

Strategy 1: While you’re around your family for the holidays, keep your mental focus on their positive qualities and keep the conversation focused on topics related to their positive qualities.  At the very least, keep the conversation on neutral topics. 

Strategy 2: Some family members are so good at pushing our buttons that they can do this with a simple comment even before the conversation gets going.  This is when you need to change the topic to something neutral or to something that reflects their positive quality.  People’s favorite topic is usually themselves.  If you focus them on themselves, they will be less focused on you.  

Strategy 3: If you find it extra difficult to stay calm, take a time out.  A time out can take the form of using the excuse that you need to use the restroom.  Go to the restroom where you can be alone and regain your calm composure.  Another form of time out is excusing yourself to get a drink or something to eat or to talk to someone else (i.e. “Oh, there’s Aunt Ruth.  I haven’t seen her in so long.  I should go over and say hi.”).  The key is to end the conversation and keep it from developing into something worse.

In the end, they are who they are because of their personal experiences.  You are who you are because of yours.  Although you have the right to a happy life and positive interactions with people, you can’t force anyone to change.  Accept your family for who they are and remember that you only have this family for a short time.  You survived growing up with them.  You can easily survive a holiday with them.

About the Author: Sandra Thébaud, Ph.D. has been a Clinical Psychologist for over 25 years. She is also an author, speaker and stress management trainer. For more info, visit www.linkedin.com/in/sandrathebaudphd.

© 2021 Sandra Thébaud. All Rights Reserved. 

Attention: Colorado Employees

Did you know that your employer must guarantee your position if you need a medical leave of absence for a significant medical/health condition (including pregnancy) or have close family member for whom you will serve as the caretaker, who does? Employers are required to notify their employees about Colorado’s new paid Family and Medical Leave (FAMLI) program by January 1, 2023. Learn more at famli.colorado.gov and download the tools in the FAMLI Employer Toolkit.
 

Food for the Soul Blog

By Teri Sewell Huff

Sister-to-Sister, Inc. Health & Wellness Advisor

Popular Holiday Herbs/Spices & Their Health Benefits

Tis the Season to Become a Spice Girl. . . Click link below to read Sister Teri's full blog. 

University of Colorado System

Vice President of Communication

Salary Range: $230K - $240K

Location: Executive Offices in Denver, Colorado

Please share this opportunity within your networks or apply, if interested.

Fellowship Opportunity with El Pomar Foundation

Would you like to have an impact in the communities of Colorado? Are you curious about philanthropy? Do you want to accelerate your career and challenge yourself personally and professionally? The El Pomar Fellowship is a great opportunity to learn about philanthropy, nonprofit management, community development and professional growth.
 
The Fellowship is a paid, two-year program which develops high-achieving, service-minded recent college graduates and early career professionals into dynamic community leaders primed to make an impact across multiple sectors. 
 
The application is currently open and closes on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Click on the link below for more information.

Dear Supporters, Sister-to-Sister turns 29-years-old on January 17, 2023. Throughout nearly three decades, we have built community for many, while making a positive difference in their and their loved ones' lives. We will continue impacting lives for the better with your help.

In celebration of our nonprofit's 29th anniversary, please consider donating $29 a month to Sister-to-Sister, Inc. Your donation of $348, yearly, 95 cents a day, will allow our public charity to continually expand programming, create partnerships to do more, and help fund students' education. Donations are tax deductible.

Click on our website link below and see the donate button. As a member of Sister-to-Sister, Inc.'s "Supporters' Club," your contribution will be recognized with yearly acknowledgments, online or in publications.