Proud Mother Hen

At World Pulse HQ, I am often called a mother hen because of my role with Voices of Our Future. I have the honor of working intimately with over 60 women on a new program that is literally transforming the potential of Web 2.0 and Citizen Journalism right before our eyes.

Voices of Our Future is providing rigorous training to 31 women across the globe in storytelling and citizen journalism, including how to perform rapid-response reporting via cell phone and how to write Op-Ed stories. Each correspondent has also been matched with a personal empowerment coach, is receiving real-time feedback for their writing from professional writers, journalists, and editors, and will have writings published in World Pulse magazines.

Today my heart is soaring. The correspondents have been posting their first writing assignments over the past week. The assignment was to interview a female activist as well as share a best practice or solution she learned from her interviewee. Women News Network picked up an article written by our very own Gertrude (cad_communication) that describes how one woman is providing support to children and families impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Next, I had the divine pleasure of reading Gifty Pearl's story of meeting her mentor, Kathy, in Ghana. \"Kathy and I chorused as we embraced each other warmly for minutes at the reception of Airside hotel-Accra, Ghana. Are we hugging each other for real? This question dropped in my mind uninvited. Yes, we were.\"

After Gifty's story I thought nothing could top an already glorious morning, and then, I saw Arda's assignment in Voices Rising. After what I imagine were a few dark nights of the soul for Arda, where she doubted her ability to participate in Voices of Our Future, it feels as though she acknowledged her doubts and said, \"Thank you, but no thanks, I think I will continue.\" We are so excited for Arda — and every Correspondent, who is on this journey on the frontiers of Web 2.0 and new media with us.

I hope you will take the time to get to know the Correspondents and read their stories. I hope that you, too, will dive into this incredible community and connect with your sisters across oceans, mountains, continents, and borders. As Jensine just wrote in her journal, we are birthing a new world together.

In Spirited Partnership,

Jennifer