Special Archives - Page 5 of 25

We Remember Their Service

May 25, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

All gave some . . . .
Some gave all.

Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We remember their service and honor them this Memorial Day.

To view photos of interracial military couples and families, visit The Swirl World’s sister Facebook page at Military Swirl.

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#143| Sisters From Another Mother

May 24, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

“One thing is clear to me: We, as human beings, must be willing to accept people who are different from ourselves.”

~Barbara Jordan

We’ve been featuring UT-Austin 2015 graduate Valencia Campbell all weekend.

From a recent Facebook post Valencia wrote:

“When I came to college, I asked God for sisters. I’ve got two amazing big brothers, but no sisters. Because He’s that awesome, He gave me these @alli_stinnett & @blackswan______ . It’s so great to be connected to such amazing people who accept you for who you are and only make you better. I hope they’ve adjusted to me, because I love them too much to go anywhere! Lol”

With all the negative talk surrounding women – and Black women in particular – and our supposed inability to get along, we’re always grateful to see examples of “sisters from another mother” who defy the odds.

They love and appreciate each other. They’re not too proud to admit how much they need and rely on one another.

In essence, they tear down stereotypes, not each other!

These three young women met as freshmen at UT-Austin and became best friends. Each with their own individual stories, they accepted each others differences and leveraged what they had in common.

They saw one another through tough times, providing inspiration and encouragement whenever needed.

They gave each other tough love.

Through it all, they reached their goal. Yesterday, these young women graduated with Bachelor degrees.

Woot!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#141| What Are You Saying?

May 22, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Our words are forerunners of the events in the future. Those that say they can, can. Those that say they can´t, can’t. ~Charles Capps

Today’s post features Valencia Campbell, a young lady I’ve watched grow up since she was a little girl.

Valencia’s father, Valentine Campbell, passed away suddenly when she was barely 12 years old.

Ten years later, Saturday, May 23, at age 22 she graduates with full honors from the University of Texas-Austin (and as the Black Valedictorian of the School of Social Works).

And that’s not all.

This is Valencia’s Facebook post from April 13:

“Sooooo…this came in the mail today, & while I already knew what it said, I still almost cried. I’ve been talking about law school since high school (at least), & now I’m finally in. Me? The girl who lost her dad @ 12? The one who watched other people say the same things she did & fail? The one who wondered if she could really make this happen? The one who had to fight & struggle to be the person everybody sees today? Me…admitted into LAW SCHOOL?!!! SMU LAW SCHOOL?!! AND I got a Dean’s scholarship?!!! WHAT?!!! This has been one of the best seasons of my life thus far, & I’m forever grateful to God that He helped me make it through that story and into this glory (dahhhhh!!! lol)…‪#‎mamaImadeit ‪#‎justgotreal ‪#‎lawschool”

Despite the multitude obstacles Valencia and her mother Linda faced after Valentine’s death, both women kept saying “I can. We can. We will – and we are.”

What are you saying in reference to your goals?

Are you saying, “I can” – or are you expending energy (and wasting words) talking about all the ~~excuses~~ reasons why you can’t?

In another post, Valencia says,

Do you see this face? This is the face of somebody that’s happy. This is the face of somebody that’s been blessed beyond her imagination (and is only 22). THIS is the face of somebody who JUST GOT INTO SMU LAW SCHOOL!!!! Thank you Jesus!! I’m so excited! One step closer to my dreams!! #mamaImadeit #allthingsworking #shessmart #lawschool #imcominghome

This weekend we celebrate Valencia and all 2015 college graduates, both on our Facebook page and here on the blog.

Congratulations!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

A Match Made In Sierra Leone And Beijing!

May 13, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Sierra Leone native Neneh Ada Yang met her husband, renowned Chinese artist Yang Yan of Beijing, when he came to her country specifically looking for a BLACK woman to marry.

Within one week of meeting, they were married!

Yes.

Within. One. Week!

Note: This can happen when both persons:

Know themselves
Know what they want/don’t want in a mate.

Neneh has been featured in news articles too numerous to count. She was profiled by Lorraine Spencer on the Interracial Marriage and Family website in an article entitled, “China’s Black First Lady.”

Lorraine writes, “Neneh and her husband Yan are celebrities in China and of course she is loved in her home of Sierra Leone. Neneh’s foundation provided thousands of Ebola resistant, protective wear for healthcare workers and citizens.

Neneh has become fluent in Chinese since she lives in China. Her husband taught her art and now she has her own exhibitions as does her husband in various countries. Neneh also plays a rare instrument; a guqin, one of only a few in the world who mastered it in China.

She is a philanthropist and most importantly wife and mommy.”

To read the full article Lorraine wrote about Neneh (and to see more stunning photographs and a video), click here.

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here for the direct download or here for the show’s permanent link.

You can also listen to this and other episodes on Sound Cloud.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over and listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or PlayerFM.

To read national news articles about Neneh and her husband, click here, here, here, here and here.

The Shout Out! for this episode goes to cousins Lavinia Shebeshonuf and Boughetto Rising of the Just Thinkin’ Out Loud Podcast.

To visit the Just Thinkin’ Out Loud website, click here. To visit The Nerdy Black Chicks Talk Radio Show on Facebook, click here. To visit the Just Thinkin’ Out Loud Facebook page, click here.

To listen to their podcast on Stitcher, click here, and on Spreaker, click here. You can also listen to the show on PodBean and Podomatic.

Want to be a guest on The Swirl World Podcast, or know someone who should?

Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio. You can also hear us on PlayerFM!

Copyright © 2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photos of Neneh and her husband Yang obtained with permission from the Interracial Marriage and Family website. JTOL logo used with permission.

#129| Happy Mothers Day!

May 10, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, “Where mother is.”
— Keith L. Brooks

Us “Big Girls” say the same thing!

Happy Mother’s Day.

The Swirl World is celebrating Mothers and Motherhood all weekend long. Come over to our Facebook page to see photographs from around the world of Mothers with their families!

And did you know The Swirl World has a Facebook page devoted exclusively to Military Swirl Couples?

Click here to view photos of active duty and retired military couples from around the world, and read their stories.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

How To Swirl With Rock Stars

April 27, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Brenda Thompson is a “Seasoned Swirler” – she’s been Swirling like a Rock Star – and with Rock Stars since the early 70’s!

Friend and confidante to members of Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night, The Who and other rock bands, in this podcast episode Brenda shares some interesting stories – and important advice – for Black women who want to get out of their comfort zone and Swirl.

Brenda Thompson and an old friend, circa the 1970s.

Want to learn how to swirl with Rock Stars? Listen and learn . . . listen and learn.

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here for the direct download or here for the show’s permanent link.

You can also listen to this and other episodes on Sound Cloud.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over to iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

A former university professor and public relations professional, Brenda is also an accomplished writer. Look for upcoming posts featuring her short stories.

To visit Brenda’s blog, click here.

The Shout Out! for this episode goes to Nancy Gathecha of the Live By Design – Inspiration Radio Podcast.

Nancy’s weekly show features inspiring stories and informative interviews with business strategists, lifestyle experts and thought leaders on various topics. Each show will leave you motivated and ready, to take action in the direction of the life and business of your dreams.

To listen to Nancy’s show, click here. Follow her on Twitter @NancyGathecha. Find Nancy on Facebook here.

Want to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who should? Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com. Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Growing Up Mixed

April 17, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Merieta Bayati is the product of the marriage of a Persian man and a Black woman.

Merieta Bayati’s father Masoud is Persian.

Her mother Sylvia is African American.

We featured Masoud and Sylvia earlier this week in Podcast Episode 68. Masoud and Sylvia also have been featured on our Facebook page and in a past blog post.

In today’s podcast episode, we chat with Merieta to talk about Swirling, and growing up mixed in Jackson, Mississippi.

Merieta is quirky, spunky and full of personality. She gives a humorous, yet thought-provoking account of growing up mixed in Mississippi.

Merieta is the author of The Girlie Girl’s Guide: To Living a Fabulously Fulfilled Life! She’s also very passionate about mentoring and positively impacting the lives of young girls.

Enjoy!

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here for the direct download or here for the show’s permanent link.

You can also listen to this and other episodes on Sound Cloud.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over to iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

The Shout Out! for this episode goes to Dr. Annise Mabry of the Back2Us Radio Network, also co-owned by Michelle A. Dowell-Vest.

The Back2Us Radio Network is a social advocacy, cause-based podcast network with 19 podcasters who host 16 shows 7 days per week. The Back2Us Network is where passion and purpose align to educate, empower, heal, and transform our community one show at a time.

Podcasters on Back2Us Radio discuss a broad range of topics including sexual orientation, disability awareness, mental wellness, educational advocacy, emotional freedom, meditation, and the power of intention. They are YOUR community radio network…created for the community by the community.

To visit the Back2Us website and listen to the podcast, click here or here. To listen to the Back2Us Podcast on VoiceRepublic, click here.

To listen to the Back2Us Podcast on Stitcher, click here. Follow Dr. Annise Mabry on Twitter: @DrAnniseMabry

Follow Michelle A. Dowell-Vest on Twitter: @agurlzguide Follow Back2Us on Twitter: @Back2Us.

“Like” the Back2Us Facebook page by clicking here.

The Taxman Cometh!

April 15, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

The Taxman Cometh!

Um, no – he’s here.

Today is April 15, a day dreaded by millions in the United States.

It’s tax day, and hopefully you have your act together and you’ve already filed.

Most people fall into two camps come April 15: The Prepared and The Unprepared.

(I’m happy to report I’m on #TeamPrepared. *Pats self on back*)

For the others of you who are prepared, well done!

As for the rest of you . . . .

I’m giving you ~~The Stank Eye~~ The Look.

Thankfully, there’s a remedy for both The Prepared AND The Unprepared:

Taxation Specialist and Financial Consultant Tia Delano!

Here’s some info on Tia from her “About” page:

I am a taxation specialist, and I create customized financial plans so that my clients can reduce their liabilities, increase their net worth and create their ideal quality of life. I especially love to work with professional women that are eager to use their money to create a quality lifestyle now, as well as prepare for their futures.

In addition to educational degrees, Tia has almost 15 years’ experience in the financial world, including holding the coveted Enrolled Agent license – the highest professional credential awarded by IRS.

Run, don’t walk, over to Tia’s website at TiaDelano.com, where she’s dropping lots of knowledge to help all of us get our financial life.

To learn about the Freebies you can enjoy on Tax Day, read her post entitled “Tax Day Is Two Days Away: Freebies For All!”

Woot!

Follow Tia on Twitter @TiaTheTaxPro. To “Like” the Tia Delano Facebook page, click here.

#104| Can We Talk?

April 14, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

“Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation.”

~Oscar Wilde

I believe longevity in relationships derives from a conversation that never ends.

So, can we talk?

Today’s featured couple, Tom and Alida Sharp, live in Belize. They met in high school when Tom “shoved an Oreo® cookie in her mouth!”

They have been married for almost 33 years.

To listen to the story of that Oreo cookie, click here. To learn more about their life in Belize, click here.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

He’s Persian – She’s African American!

April 13, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Masoud Bayati is Persian and his wife Sylvia is African American. They met in college in Jackson, Mississippi – and have been married for almost 38 years!

Sylvia is the author of The Sexless Marriage: A Relationship Guide, available on Amazon.

We featured Masoud, Sylvia and their beautiful Swirl family on our Facebook page and in a past blog post and the response was phenomenal.

We were thrilled to have them on the podcast so they could share their unique love story.

Enjoy!

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here for the direct download or here for the show’s permanent link.

You can also listen to this and other episodes on Sound Cloud.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over to iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

The Shout Out! for this episode goes to Leslie Butler MacFadyen of the Interracial Jawn Podcast.

Leslie and her husband are an interracial couple discussing pop culture, tv, movies and current events from their unique perspectives as a very white guy and a mostly black woman.

To visit their website and listen to the podcast, click here.

Click @LeslieMac to follow Leslie and @VeryWhiteGuy to follow her husband on Twitter.

Want to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who sho uld? Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com. Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Copyright © 2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photos used with permission. Post contains an affiliate link for The Sexless Marriage: A Relationship Guide.

« Previous Page

We Remember Their Service

Like this:

#143| Sisters From Another Mother

Like this:

#141| What Are You Saying?

Like this:

A Match Made In Sierra Leone And Beijing!

Like this:

#129| Happy Mothers Day!

Like this:

How To Swirl With Rock Stars

Like this:

Growing Up Mixed

Like this:

The Taxman Cometh!

The Taxman Cometh!

Um, no – he’s here.

Taxation Specialist and Financial Consultant Tia Delano!

Run, don’t walk, over to Tia’s website at TiaDelano.com, where she’s dropping lots of knowledge to help all of us get our financial life.

Follow Tia on Twitter @TiaTheTaxPro. To “Like” the Tia Delano Facebook page, click here.

Like this:

He’s Persian – She’s African American!

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

The Taxman Cometh!

Um, no – he’s here.

Taxation Specialist and Financial Consultant Tia Delano!

Run, don’t walk, over to Tia’s website at TiaDelano.com, where she’s dropping lots of knowledge to help all of us get our financial life.

Follow Tia on Twitter @TiaTheTaxPro. To “Like” the Tia Delano Facebook page, click here.

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Be Sociable! Share this:

Like this:

Are You In?

Thank you!