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young women – patriciafostermckenley.com
patriciafostermckenley.com

Professional Poet, Life Coach, Educator, Artist – Runs Workshops, Gives Reiki & Wellbeing Training

Tag: young women

Super Woman: Taking Everyday In Her Stride! Celebrating International Women’s Month. By Poet, Educator, Holistic Coach, Speaker & Vegan Patricia Foster McKenley 

March 14, 2018 /

“As a woman, today and hereafter, I choose to express myself at my highest potential! That is my divine purpose and mission on this Earth.”~ Patricia Foster McKenley, 8th March 2012

International performances at ‘Palabras The Reunion, Paradiso, Amsterdam

Performance at book launch of ‘Irki’ by Kadija George, at The Barbican. Photo: Rousha Browning / SABLE LitMag

Imagine how this world would be if as individual women, we decided to reach for our highest potential and operate from that place for as much of our lives as possible. Imagine if we tapped into our innate powers and energies daily. 

I wrote the above quote for International Women’s Day in March 2012. March is also renowned  for celebrating International Women’s Week and International Women’s Month. 

We also celebrated Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day in the UK on Sunday 11th March 2018. Additionally, two of my beautiful nieces celebrated Birthdays in March – one on International Women’s Day too, therefore lots of female energy to tap into and generate. Lots of magic and miracles to create.

Giving a lecture to ‘The Cloud’ spoken word collective, as part of the Mboka Festival 2017, Gambia. Photo: Clovis McKenley.

 

So as a woman, how will you choose to express yourself and your positive, female energy today, this month, in March and for the rest of the year? It is our divine gift to share with our loved ones and the world.

MANY BLESSINGS,

Patricia Foster McKenley.

Patricia will be running Poetry Workshops, Self-Esteem Workshops for Young Women and Writing/Personal Development Workshops for Women during International Women’s Month and throughout the year. She’ll also be performing at various Poetry Readings throughout March. 

For bookings, contact:

+447956 476 547
Or

prfoster@hotmail.com

Please feel free to follow Patricia on Twitter @Ms_P_Foster

and on Instagram 

@PatriciaFoster7000

Facilitating My Workshop and Performing Poetry at ‘Every Woman Inspired’ Expo, Kingston Jamaica. 22-24 November, 2013!

November 28, 2013 /
Delivering my workshop 'Return to Princess, Wonder Woman & Goddess' In Kingston, Jamaica, November 2013. Photo: Denise Henry

Delivering my workshop ‘Return to Princess, Wonder Woman & Goddess’ In Kingston, Jamaica, November 2013. Photo: Denise Henry

The Every Woman Inspired (EWI) Expo was an opportunity I felt I couldn’t ignore. EWI 2013 allowed me to work alongside and spend quality time with some remarkable women: Rasheda ‘Ginger’ Malcolm, Patricia McKenzie-Thomas and Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon. These generous, humble, beautiful yet incredibly powerful women created an event that provided me with a life changing experience; the type that is etched in your memory for the rest of your life!

Marcia 'Culture' Gordon, Patricia McKenzie-Thomas and Rasheda 'Ginger' Malcolm, at the opening of 'Every Woman Inspired' Expo

Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon, Patricia McKenzie-Thomas and Rasheda ‘Ginger’ Malcolm, at the opening of ‘Every Woman Inspired’ Expo

I had the opportunity to deliver my workshop entitled ‘The Return To Princess, Wonder Woman & Goddess
~ Exploring The Powerful Female Within Us’. This was a writing and personal development workshop which produced phenomenal results. I also recited some of my published poetry at the launch/opening event of ‘Every Woman Inspired’.

Photo: Denise Henry

Photo: Denise Henry

Photo: Patricia Foster

Photo: Patricia Foster

Reading poetry at the 'Every Woman Inspired' launched reception. Photo: Denise Henry

Reading poetry at the ‘Every Woman Inspired’ launched reception. Photo: Denise Henry

Additionally I, alongside other facilitators and attendees, was interviewed live on Power 106 FM Radio.

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Photo: Rasheda Malcolm

Photo: Rasheda Malcolm

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I also performed to a receptive audience at the EWI Gala Dinner and Dance, alongside the likes of international reggae singer Sharon Tucker. There were also powerful performances of poetry.

Sharon Tucker

Sharon Tucker

Poet Abena Bedeau

Poet Abena Bedeau

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The expo also attracted the likes of the current Miss Jamaica UK Gemma Feare, a remarkable, talented and very inspirational young woman who delivered a powerful keynote speech.

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

The attendees and participants were also treated to exceptional workshops:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), by phenomenal Specialist Midwife and Perineal Health expert Denise Henry

Denise Henry

Denise Henry

‘Thriving at Twenty! Transformed at Thirty! Fabulous at Forty! Fulfilled at Fifty! Still Sexy at Sixty’ Workshop, by Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon. Amazing and Inspirational.

Marcia 'Culture' Gordon delivering her workshop

Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon delivering her workshop

Career and CV Workshop by Nadine Chambers-Goss. Career specialist and coach extraordinaire!

Nadine Chambers-Goss

Nadine Chambers-Goss

Lips – New Poetry Film Release by Award-Winning Poet & Educator Patricia Foster McKenley. A Poet’s View on Teenage Bullying!

August 9, 2013 /

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Photo ©️Mellow 9 Productions


I am really pleased to share with you that the film version of my poem ‘Lips’, which tackles the theme of teenage bullying, has been released. It is uncanny how it has been released at a time when bullying and in particular cyber bullying, has been in the news of late; not just here in the UK but world wide.

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Photo ©️Mellow 9 Productions


It has been quite emotional for me to see my poem brought to life on film, by the amazingly talented Mellow 9 Productions http://www.mellow9productions.co.uk/. The journey from poem idea – first developed in a Malika’s Poetry Kitchen Friday session – to film has been eleven years. The topic of bullying and identity being relevant then as it is now.

This film also couldn’t have been brought to life in such a magnificent way, without the superb young female actors – who were so serendipitously cast – provided by The Girls Friendly Society of England and Wales (GFS Platform Islington Project). https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk/group-finder/islington/ Located in the London borough of Islington, this wonderful project delivers a wide range of exciting activities, workshops and events for young women aged 11 to 19, to widen their horizons, encourage debates and boost confidence and aspirations. Learn more about The Girls Friendly Society of England and Wales (GFS) and the wonderful they do nationwide, by visiting https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk

It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a brilliant cast and crew.

I currently use my film ‘Lips’ within self esteem, personal development and anti-bullying Workshops and so far have used in Workshops in Jamaica, The Netherlands and universities, youth centres and community organisations in the UK. 

Click on the link below to view the film

http://youtu.be/DuzFlvl25qg

Lips © Text Copyright Patricia Foster McKenley 2002


To book a Workshop, contact Patricia Foster McKenley on info@YouAreYOU.co or call +447956476547


When Will Bullies Get The Message? – by Patricia Foster McKenley

July 18, 2013 /
Photo: Patricia Foster Photo: © Patricia Foster McKenley

As individuals, we are ALL created uniquely beautiful. Some of us have gentle dispositions and are therefore misunderstood. Some of us are extremely sensitively wired and are therefore misunderstood. Some of us will NEVER fit into the mould of acceptable looks, or acceptable past times. It’s about having patience with and being accepting of others, instead of demonising them…because they are not like you!

Some of us may not have explored communication tools that can best express our thoughts or feelings, so may have difficulty in responding to harsh words or criticism, or are unable to articulate the inner pain connected to these harsh words. Speaking out against harsh, critical words may therefore be a huge challenge.
Some of us may feel unsupported, because we are unable to find the right person to express our innermost thoughts and feelings to, without the fear of our expressed feelings being thrown back in our faces.

There is a saying “hurt people hurt people”. Research has shown that those who are unhappy within, or are in pain themselves lash out or bully others, therefore hurting their intended target too.

I performed poetry at a recent ‘Loose Muse’ women’s writing event and a courageous young lady shared her own, deeply personal experiences of being bullied and subsequently wanting to take her own life. She mentioned also that in the area of south London where she resides, suicides among teenagers, in particular GCSE and A Level students were at a ridiculously high number. This was not just due to the pressures of life, but also about how some are made to feel by harsh comments and treatments by others.

Today, I read a Facebook post, which outlined the last Tweet posted by a young man, tormented over the years about his sexuality. He was commonly referred to as “a loser, freak and fag” and used this to describe himself in his last Twitter message. He felt he had done the world an injustice and therefore took his life.

Without the right support and understanding from others, when will people cease to remove their inner pain, torment and feelings of being misunderstood by taking their own lives?

Some of us will never be accepted, because we are moulded and act differently.

How can those of us who are emotionally stronger step in to help prevent bullying and help support and encourage those who are being bullied or misunderstood?

In my workshops and through my writing I have focussed on this, as I have also been bullied and victimised by others. I therefore choose to use my art and holistic and well-being tools to help stand up to this. Writing and coaching can be useful ways to express pain, as well as feel accepted and valued within.

© Patricia Foster McKenley 2013

Serena Williams’ French Open Win 2013: What Impact Can This Have on Girls and Young Women?

June 9, 2013 /
Photo Credit: PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images

Photo Credit: PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images

As somebody who is committed to empowering girls and young women through creative, literary and holistic approaches, I have so much time for Serena and Venus Williams. I would cite them as two of my favourite role models, especially when needed to counteract the sometimes negative images, representations and portrayal of women that we currently see in the media.

It is therefore very frustrating to see the unnecessary, negative press Serena and Venus sometimes receive, whilst having dry spells and even when they win grand slams.

As a vegan and ‘raw foodist’ myself, according to an article on ‘Examinar.com’ holisticnewsletter (http://www.examiner.com/article/serena-williams-shifts-to-raw-foods-diet-to-support-her-sister-venus), I’m aware Serena followed a raw vegan diet to support her sister Venus, who was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome, reported in the Washington Post on April 27. Venus was already following a raw food diet (eating unprocessed, uncooked vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds juices and smoothies), and in solidarity with her sister, Serena became a raw vegan also.

Serena had also taken the time to heal from a recent life threatening illness herself. She has therefore been to the brink and back, overcoming adversity, personal family tragedy and negative criticism from the press to get back to what she does best; winning!

Yesterday I spent an afternoon at a lovely, well respected bakery in Dulwich, south London, with a group of young ladies I have been teaching on The Virtue Programme, an education and personal development course dedicated to building confidence and self esteem into the female leaders of tomorrow. The trip was to expose them to the positive experiences they can gain and more nutritional options open to them, if they don’t choose from the popular high street fast food eateries. I can already see them acknowledging how powerful they are and what goals are possible for them to achieve! Like Serena and Venus, these young ladies too can overcome any obstacles they are faced with, as well as override criticism and negative comments to be winners in life.

This French Open win is testimony to the fighter, determined woman and high achiever Serena Williams is!

Totally inspirational!

© Patricia Foster June 2013

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