G’Day Mates!

I am writing to you from Down Under where I am currently working on a cool project for work. I feel TOTALLY blessed to be able to travel the globe and speak to women and girls about self-esteem. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter where we live, what religion we choose, what kind of language we speak – we are all grappling with how to fit in, feel loved, and make a difference. That’s why I love the community we have formed here – because we are all about lifting ourselves and each other up – and making a big difference in the world!

So, because I am super jet lagged, I am going to make this month’s newsletter short and sweet.

This month I wanted to remind us all to push beyond our limits. So many of us are just on the brink of changing our lives. Of letting go of old pains and fears. Of really creating a new pattern, behavior or relationship that will bring us much peace and happiness. And then something inevitably stops us (it has to) because without the road block we wouldn’t have a moment to gather up our vision, dig deep into our strength, and forge ahead. We can choose to look at obstacles as stopping points or starting points. If we choose to let them stop us – we are more inclined to give up – but if we look at them as starting points – then we are just beginning to bounce back into action.

Take a minute and think about what you perceive to be in the way of your dreams. Now, instead of giving up and going away – let’s look at this as an opportunity to get better, think bigger, feel more. Let’s look at this moment as a beginning not an end. Take a deep breath and keep moving.

I hope that wherever this message finds you – it finds you at the perfect and right time in your life to know you are not alone – you can do it – and you will succeed!!

I wanted to share with you the winner of our “Jess Necklace” giveaway! Her name is Shelbi and she wrote an essay about her amazing mother Lori and what she means to her. In honor of Mother’s day (and Grandmother’s day, mentor day, step-mother day, etc) I thought we’d reprint Shelbi’s winning essay. It is real, it is raw, and it is wonderful to see a 14 year old with so much appreciation for life. I hope your mom loves the necklace, Shelbi – and I want to give a shout out to your awesome brothers and sister: Jordan, Gabriel, and Isabel!! J 
Click here to read her essay.

I am so proud to share with you some rocking Actionists and Book selections this month!  As always, we are looking for inspiration – so if you know of a great book coming out or a wonderful person who is up to great Actionist things in the world – then send them our way to info@jessweiner.com

Check out my good friend Sarah Stinson’s group in Minnesota – GO GIRLS – this group of high school girls is truly walking their talk – getting out into their community and educating their peers on the pressures of Hollywood, media images, body image, and eating disorders. They are a committed, focused, passionate group of young women. And they have a dream: They want to go to FIJI to work with women and girls there and learn more about how other cultures deal with the body image pressures we do in the States. They need to raise money to go – so if you have a few spare bucks or know of a generous corporate sponsor – send an
e mail to Sarah and offer your support. I couldn’t help but put this plug in here because I believe so much in the work Sarah does in her community and throughout the country.

I am also happy to introduce you to Chenese Lewis who is walking her talk as an impassioned ambassador for the National Organization for Women’s “Love Your Body Day” – and while the national day isn’t celebrated until October, Chenese celebrates her body every day through her work as a full figured model, actress and performer. She is a dynamo, has a heart of gold and wants everyone to find what is beautiful about themselves and believe in their own power.

And lastly, our fabulous book selection is featuring a visionary I adore – Jenny Ward. Jenny is the “Chief Play Officer” of Playward.com. Her mission is to bring play, wellness, and light into people’s lives. She wrote a powerful 1st book entitled “Who Says So” challenging the societal stereotypes women face about their beauty and body image. But it’s her latest book that has me smiling! “101 Ways to Play” is a great suggestion book filled with tips on bringing back some of that magical childhood enthusiasm into our lives. You can read it with your kids, share it with a (grumpy) co-worker, or just keep it handy in case you need to be reminded that life is too short not to play!

I hope you are pushing through your fear, jumping past barriers, and enjoying a playful life. I’ll hug a Kangaroo for you and be back in June!

Thanks so much for your support, your e mails, and your love!

Jess

101 Ways To Play
-Jenny Ward

Play Activist and author Jenny Ward shares simple and fun ways to remember to PLAY each day in "101 Ways to Play."  This gift  book is perfect for adults who believe life is "all work and no play" and are looking for ways to laugh, be more creative and enhance overall health in all areas of life.

Jenny Ward is the founder and CEO of Playward, a company who's mission is to bring back joy and creativity to all areas of life. From the Girl Scouts and new moms, to Internet executives and hard-driving stockbrokers, she has facilitated workshops on health awareness, life balance, play and yoga to corporations and individuals all over the country. She received her MFA from New York University, is a licensed Life Coach and certified Yoga instructor. Author of two books, "Who Said So?" and "101 Ways to Play." Her greatest joy is learning more about PLAY from her daughter, Leela.

“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

–Lao Tzu

Connecting with Jess!

Jess May be in Australia, but you can still find all the great advice you're looking for on Jess's blog at Seventeen.com!

Surf the new Dove Channel on MSN - the newest place to find Jess on the web! This brand new online community is proud to feature Jess as an editor. Click the image below to read Jess's column, search video workshops, ask questions, and get involved!

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What's on Jess's mind...
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If you or someone you know would like to be a guest blogger on Jess's blog, please send your blog entry along with a 2 sentence bio about the writer to info@jessweiner.com.

** The topics are open - just keep in mind the goal of the site and Jess's work is to promote conversation and action**

Jess is so 21st Century...
Check out Jess's My Space page to read her blog, send her a comment, and connect with other amazing people making a difference in the world!

Book Jess in 2008!

Book Jess for your upcoming events in 2008 now and receive $500.00 off the total cost of program fees. Send your email to Elaine@Jessweiner.com to find out what dates are still available.

Our Featured Actionists™ this month are...

Chenese Lewis
Actress, Model & Advocate

Chenese Lewis is a sought after keynote speaker, expert commentator, and advocate for plus size women. She made history by being the first woman crowned Miss Plus America in 2003 and as a plus size model she has modeled for many companies including Torrid, Kmart, and has been featured in Figure Magazine. She has made numerous television appearances including Dr. Phil and The Insider and lectures at national workshops and seminars around the country, most recently as a keynote speaker for the 2007 National Organization of Woman Conference. Chenese’s unique perspective as a plus size woman and role model enables her to connect to real women across the country. It’s no wonder PLUS Model Magazine called her "A leader in the curvy revolution!" As an actress her work on B.E.T’s #1 show “Hell Date” showed her impeccable improvisational and comedic skills, which kept millions tuning in weekly. She also won rave reviews for her dramatic portrayal of Connie Williams, a larger than life professional baseball player in the NAACP Award winning play “The Girls of Summer” set in the 1940’s.

Chenese attributes her success to not conforming to society’s ideals of beauty but rather showing by example, that you can be beautiful and confident regardless of your size. Chenese Lewis is the epitome of the plus size woman.

She is the creator of Hollywood NOW’s
“Love Your Body Day” an annual event where women of all sizes come together to celebrate with confidence a day of self-acceptance and promote positive body image. In 2008 she executive produced the 2008 Flawless Calendar, the very first of its kind, showcasing a wide variety of curvaceous models all different ethnicities, shapes and sizes with high fashion editorial images.

Currently Chenese is working on the 2008 Hollywood NOW's Love Your Body Day in October and seeking sponsors, as well as the 2009 Flawless Calendar which will have premiere parties in Los Angeles and New York. She hosts an on-line radio show called PLUS Model Radio, which covers everything for curvy for women and she has also started writing her first book!
Chenese was also recently named the face of Sizeappeal, a plus size clothing line, and will be making personal appearances and hosting special events. To keep up with these projects and upcoming ones join her mailing list at  or her  MySpace page.

Sarah Stinson
Go Girls!™

In 1999 I was given an opportunity to facilitate a new curriculum entitled GO GIRLS!™ - Giving Our Girls Inspiration and
Resources for Lasting Self-Esteem. 
At that time I was unaware of the tremendous impact it would have on my life and the lives of so many others!  

The GO GIRLS!™ curriculum was created by the National Eating Disorders Association in 1998 and was "designed to encourage teens to voice their opinions to advertisers, letting them know that beauty and success have little to do with the size of their jeans."

The Red Wing GO GIRLS!™ has evolved into a group of dedicated high school girls who travel the country to educate others on healthy body image, self-esteem, media literacy and activism. They meet weekly for the curriculum and then 2-3 times a month throughout the school year. In the summer they participate in workshops, an annual retreat, fundraising and fun group activities. Over the last 9 years they have presented to over 5,000 people, been on a national talk show, developed two educational videos, presented at 4 national conferences, created a GO GIRLS!™
calendar with Tribes of Women author, Connie Bickman, raised over $70,000 in grants and donations, lobbied on Capitol Hill, created a letter writing campaign to boycott Abercrombie and Fitch receiving over 100 signatures from around the world supporting their action, designed a t-shirt that reads "Confidence: One Size Fits All", and co-wrote a song with muscian James Moors. 

When the journey began I could have never imagined we would still be going strong as we approach the 10 year anniversary of GO GIRLS!™ in the rural Mississippi River town of Red Wing, MN. Nor would I have imagined the international connections we would make with such amazing people and "Actionists®!"  

Through the program and the ongoing year round meetings the girls learn to collaborate and put differences aside, to value their opinions, to have a voice and most importantly to know and believe that their voice and their actions make a difference.  

In the challenges of adolescense also comes opportunity.  The girls have inspired me to continue the mission of creating a world where each person is seen as beautiful and unique. They have taught me the value of speaking out, the importance of encouraging young women to dream and believe their dreams can come true and the need to give girls a chance to express their own amazing ideas.  Girls going through the program report increased confidence, comfort with public speaking, improved body image, and strong leadership skills. They are our future.  As one woman shared at a recent GO GIRLS!™ presentation, "Seeing those girls present with such poise and confidence gives me hope for our future!"   

The current dream they are working to fulfill is to travel to Fiji, August of 2008. The mission is to follow up on a study that was done in Fiji in the 1990's looking at the effect of television and Western shows on the body image of the native Fijians. The girls would also like to learn more about their culuture.  For many of the girls it will be their first time traveling outside of the United States.  This dream is providing them with many opportunities one of which is to learn how to do some major fundraising!

Each moment I am with them I am reminded of the ripple affect we each have and that one small action can make a big ripple.  We will continue to create small ripples that will lead to big waves!  

GO GIRLS!!

For more information visit Go Girls!
For information about Media Awareness visit these great sites:
The Dressing Room Project
Mind on The Media
National Institute on Media and Family
Also, be sure to check out New Moon, a wonderful voice for girls!
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Everyone can be an Actionist™!
Below are some definitions of the word:

1. Someone who motivates and inspires people to take action in their everyday lives.

2. Someone of any age, race, class, and gender who wants to walk their talk out in the world and lead by example.

3. Someone willing to do what it takes to make a difference in their lives and in the world at large.

Wanna be empowered with great ways to take action in your everyday life?

Ways to Take Action

1. If you’re at a loss for new words that make you feel positive, try writing down a wish list of traits you admire in others. 

2. This one’s simple but true:  Remember that everyday actions and relationships cause a ripple effect out in the world, so practice being kind, and ask someone else to pass it on

3. Assess your own belief system.  Discover if you’re taking on others’ viewpoints or giving yourself an opportunity to craft you won.  Try writing down an opinion inventory, which can be broad and basic, silly or deep:  what are your thoughts on friendship, political issues, or even doing the laundry?  You may be amazed to discover that you have different opinions than your parents or friends do.

Small steps of action can make a great change!

Also, be sure to check out the Ways to Take Action section of our web site.