SHE Leads: Empowering Nonprofit Leaders for Girls

Empowering girls means supporting the leaders who work, tirelessly, to inspire, advocate and create opportunities for girls to reach their full potential.

That is why I’m so excited that the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls is hosting our inaugural conference, exclusively, for women who lead girl-centered nonprofits. Statistics show that nonprofits lead by women and those focusing on girls, receive a smaller portion of available funding for charities.

I created this conference to be a place where women leaders can gather, discuss issues relevant to working with girls and young women, network and share ideas about fundraising, capacity-building, collaboration and much more. To find out more about the ‘SHE Leads: Empowering Nonprofit Leaders for Girls’ conference, email: Contact@shaunfoundationforgirls.org

Mother’s Day to my Angels

“Your prayers still cover me”. A Heavenly Mother’s Day to the women in my family who were my Mom’s support system throughout my life. You have a piece of my heart. ❤️ (left to right) Grandma Curry (Dad’s mom); Mama Ashie (Mom’s mom); Mama Nonie (Mom’s step-mother) and Gloria (my step-mom). I love you and miss you dearly. You are my angels. 🕊️

Mother’s Day

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to the best mommy in the world! God truly blessed me with you! 💐 I’m also wishing all the mothers, aunties, sisters, girlfriends and all those who have “mothered” someone in their life, a BEAUTIFUL MOTHER’S DAY! 💜

Yearbook

The Roller Set. The Pearls. Spelman College Yearbook.

MET GALA

#MetGala Red Carpet 2014. 🖤 I remember this being an incredible (and hectic) night in NY. The streets were cordoned off and security was so tight so we had to get there hours before the start of the event. (That’s not security behind me, that’s @ajcalloway 😉) They call it the east coast Oscars and I can see why. My dress had the longest train! I remember all the reporters had to do our interviews behind the railing and we were cramped! Even still, it was a fun seeing all the fashion. #redcarpet

Sunday Selfie

Sending you love and positive vibes today! 💜

Exactly As I Am

Inspiring our girls! 👧🏽 👧🏾 On this #TBT, some of my favorite pics from the publication of my 1st book 📖 ‘Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice With Today’s Girls On What It Takes To Believe In Yourself!’ Loved touring the country and signing copies for all the beautiful young ladies who came out to the bookstores to hear me read passages that will inspire and motivate them! 📚 💜

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing you a blessed day! 🐣

Jennifer Hudson Show

Thank you, JHud, for having me on the Jennifer Hudson Show! You turned the tables on me! 😄Loved talking about my hometown Detroit and my friendship with Aretha Franklin, my nonprofit - the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls and, of course, 90 Day Fiance! 💚

Sunshine and Gumbo

Stepping onto the purple carpet for the “Gumbo, Jazz & Good Times” fundraiser benefiting my nonprofit, the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls! 💜 Such a blessing that the rain held off and the sun came shining through the clouds ☀️ giving us a beautiful afternoon to raise money for our mission to empower underserved and underrepresented girls and young women! Can’t wait to share pictures with you! 📸

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

🌹

Super Bowl and Usher

So excited to see my friend Usher perform the Super Bowl Halftime show! I’ve known Usher since I first moved to LA and he has always been one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth people I know. His show is going to be 🔥.

Grandma’s Hands

It truly takes a village to raise a child. February is special in my heart because it’s the birthday month for my two beloved grandmothers - Feb. 5th for Grandma Curry, my dad’s mom (on the left) and Feb. 12th for Mama Ashie, my mother’s mom (right). The song “Grandma’s Hands” by Bill Wither’s beautifully sums up my life and feelings about my two angels. If you have been blessed with a loving grandmother, you can appreciate my feelings. If you aren’t familiar with the song or need a refresher, I’ve included the lyrics below. Happy Heavenly Birthday Mama Ashie and Grandma. I love you. 🎂 🙏🏾❤️ 🕊️…

“Grandma’s hands

Clapped in church on Sunday morning

Grandma’s hands

Played a tambourine so well

Grandma’s hands

Used to issue out a warning

She’d say, “Billy don’t you run so fast

Might fall on a piece of glass

Might be snakes there in that grass”

Grandma’s hands

Grandma’s hands

Soothed a local unwed mother

Grandma’s hands

Used to ache sometimes and swell

Grandma’s hands

Used to lift her face and tell her,

She’d say “Baby, Grandma understands

That you really love that man

Put yourself in Jesus hands”

Grandma’s hands

Grandma’s hands

Used to hand me piece of candy

Grandma’s hands

Picked me up each time I fell

Grandma’s hands

Boy, they really came in handy

She’d say, “Matty don’ you whip that boy

What you want to spank him for?

He didn’ drop no apple core”

But I don’t have Grandma anymore

If I get to heaven I’ll look for

Grandma’s hands”

Emmy Throwback

An #Emmys Throwback❤️ In honor of today’s show, I found this red carpet pic (don’t remember which year). I loved this #Grecian look, especially the way we did my hair. 🌹