My nomination: Sisterhood

My first nomination for the Sisterhood category is the kindhearted Lisbeth Salifu.

My bond with Lisbeth was fomented when we built our sandbox of encouragement, solidarity, and sisterhood on World Pulse. Not a day goes by without Lisbeth checking in to see how I am doing, to respond to my articles, and to share what’s going on at her end. She is so patient, gentle, encouraging, supportive, and always ever so warm and affable. I’ve always found this to be a powerful set of qualities to have to make a difference in the world beyond your own.

Lisbeth is an incredible human being. She is a moving embodiment of the idea of sisterhood and doesn’t take a minute longer than necessary to build bridges. She speaks from her heart and holds space untiringly, and is a powerful creator of safe and brave spaces for the women around her. I’ve always admired this trait in her. It takes a lot of courage to be this person for people you haven’t met in person – to be this unconditional is not a skill, it is a gift to humanity.

I believe Lisbeth deserves to be up on top in this category for her meaningful and supportive work, for her generosity and unrelenting goodness, for her quick to smile and quick to support attitude, and most of all, for her generous sense of love and respect for the sisterhood she painstakingly nurtures every day. She truly does lift up all those around her, listens with empathy and pays forward without judgment, and is an incredible connector.