Diva Connection Magazine

7/30/2019 Diva Connection Magazine

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D I V A C O N N E C T I O N

M A G A Z I N E

SPRING-SUMMER 2013 | VOLUME 1

Little PinkBook

Women sharearea connections

they trust

Power ofconnectionSix inuential F-M womenremember life-changing

connections

InspiringchangeLearn how youcan help today


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4 | Diva Connection Magazine Spring/Summer 2013

10

Inspiring divas:Fonda uses

celebrityfor good

Page 12

contentsSpring | Summer 2013

Global Connection:

Meet a Fargo woman making adifference in Kenya

Diva Connection:One woman recognizesself in anothers call for

help

16

20Power of connection:How one chance meetingcan change your life

32Little Pink Book:Real referrals realwomen trust

Empower each other, impact the world.

Visit DivaConnection.org


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Chris Linnares

Diva Connection founder

Heidi Shaffer

Diva Connection Magazine editor

From the editor

From the founder

ln December 2005, I was experiencingmy rst winter in North Dakota. I left mycountry, Brazil my culture, my friends, my

career and all my connections. I didnt know

where to go, with whom to talk or how tobegin to create the life of my hearts dreams.

Eventually, I was able to start making

connections with beautiful women in this

community, women who generously offered

their friendship, encouragement and support.

If it wasnt for them, I believe I wouldnt be

here today.Those beautiful women inspired me to

dream of creating opportunities to facilitate

the connection between women in our

community. Not just a simple connection,

but a connection that can provoke powerful

change in our lives, families and world.

Today, I am so grateful this dream cametrue! What you are holding in your hands is

not just a simple magazine, but the power

of dreams, connection, love and, most

importantly, the power of women.

From the executive director of our

foundation, to the editor of this magazine,

we are all volunteers who share the samedream. We all believe, as Mother Teresa once

said, that together we can do great things.

We invite you to dream with us and bea part of our community, one lled with

beautiful women who empower each other

and impact the world.

Change means something different toevery woman. We think of passing seasons,transitioning to new stages in life and, as

we are so inclined as women, changing ourminds.This issue is all about connecting for

change from our own families to the worldat large.

Many womens magazines promise to helpyou change your eating habits to lose weight

or give you 10 ways to look great naked, butDiva Connection Magazine is different.We want to inspire readers to go out

and change the world around them byhighlighting what women are doing to helpthose in need in our community.

Our Global Connection page illustrateshow one Fargo woman has changed the lives

of women living in poverty-stricken Kenya,while our Inspiring Divas page examines thelife of Jane Fonda, an international advocatefor womens issues.As we all know, change is inevitable. So

embrace it and let it inspire you.

Founder | Editor message


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Connect:

Hannah Sorensen

Contributing writer

Sometimes it feels impossible to connectwith your friends, family and community.

Carve out time in your schedule to makesome of these activities a priority, and you

will feel the positive power of connection.

1.Join Diva Connection Foundationeach month for our Happy Hour socials atMaxwells in West Fargo. Meet new people,

share your business, and enjoy good food

and drinks.

2. Volunteer. Help others while enjoyingtime with people who matter to you.

3. Celebrate! Dont forget to encourageeach other as you reach your goals and

celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. These

are all great reasons to enjoy a meal together.

4. Snail mail. Send someone you careabout a handwritten note. Out of the blue

or for a milestone, its always nice to receive

something other than a bill.

5. Game night. Host a game night andenjoy great conversation and lots of laughter.

A good friend is aconnection to life

and a tie to the past, aroad to the future, the

key to sanity in a totallyinsane world.

Lois Wyse, author

Make time for yourself and others

Courtesy of Maxwells


Social connection


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Jane Fonda

devotes lifeto womensadvocacy

Associated Press photo

Actress, writer and activist Jane Fonda,age 75, is known for many things.

Her more than 50 years of acting that

earned her two Academy Awards, an Emmy

Award and three Golden Globes; more than20 exercise videos; political activism; and her

best-selling books.

What a lot of people dont know is that she

is a very big supporter of feminist causes.

A lot of the programs she stands behind

pertain to women empowering, helping and

supporting them.Fonda writes on her website, I think you

can be most effective as an activist when youare involved with something that speaks to

you in your gut. Stopping violence against

women and girls, helping adolescents see a

bright future for themselves so theyll avoid

risky behaviors, helping expand womenspresence in the media these are things that

matter to me.

Causes she supports:Georgia Campaign forAdolescent Pregnancy

Prevention (G-CAPP)Fonda founded the campaign, which is a

statewide effort to reduce the high rates of

adolescent pregnancy in Georgia.

V-DayA global activist movement to end violence

against women and girls. Fonda is a member ofthe V-Board, along with other celebrities such as

Salma Hayek, Charlize Theron and Eve Ensler.

The Emory School of

MedicineShe established the Jane Fonda Center for

Adolescent Reproductive Health to help prevent

adolescent pregnancy and educate and guide

young people as they develop and mature.

Womens Media CenterFonda is the co-founder and board member.

They work to give women greater presence and

voice in the media.

LaurelLee LoftsgardContributing writer | Director of

Operations for Diva Connection


Inspiring divas


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Continued on page 14

A highlight on a womens issue in the worldand what one woman is doing for change

Jua means hope and sunshine inSwahili, and thats what the Jua Project aims

to bring to the women of Kitale, Kenya, andtheir families.

The Jua Project, founded by Lindsay

Erhardt of Fargo, provides employment andbasic skills training to help women out of

poverty by supporting themselves and their

families.

Lindsay started the Jua Project after sheand a friend found a mother of two named

Sellina, whose house was about to cave in.

Her 6-year-old and 4-year-old daughters were

so malnourished, they both t into Lindsays

12-month-old daughters clothing.Lindsay cared for the two girls until they

were healthy enough to live with their motheragain. Three months later, she brought the

girls back, but little had changed. Their

mother needed structure and accountability.

The Jua Project was born by a simple actof giving Sellina a job, Lindsay says.

Now, six women come together to makepaper-bead necklaces and bracelets and pray

for and with each other. The women also

started making patchwork bags and banana-

Photo courtesy of Lindsay Erhardt

Fargo resident Lindsay Erhardt visits with some of the women she helped in Kenya.

Spreadingjua

By LaurelLee Loftsgard | Contributing writer

Fargo native helps Kenyan women

Forum Communications le photo

Jua Project women make jewelry to support their

families.


Global connection


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KENYA

In Kenya, many women face terrible circumstances, including unfair laws,

prostitution, disease and genital mutilation, according to the Foundation for

Sustainable Development.Though the country continues to move forward, daily life for many

Kenyan women is still a struggle.

Agriculture creates of 80 percent of Kenyas jobs and 60 percent of

income, the FSD reports. Women do the vast majority of agricultural work

yet only earn a fraction of the income. Only 29 percent earning a formal

wage are women, and almost 40 percent of households are run solely by

women, many of whom exist in severe poverty, the FSD reports

Though female genital mutilation is against the law, some communities in

Kenya continue the practice because of cultural tradition and so men will

prot more when marrying off their daughters, according to the WomensInternational Perspective, a global media organization for womens issues.

LaurelLee Loftsgard, contributing writer

Illustration by Troy Becker,

Forum Communications Co.

Global connection

Spring/Summer 2013 Diva Connection Magazine | 13


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Continued from page 12

ber makeup bags they will debut later

this summer.

How to helpBecause the Jua Project is funded

entirely by the jewelry sales each month,

they still need nancial support.

You can sponsor a mom for $10 a

month, which goes directly to pay her

salary.

Host a jewelry party and promote Juas

website and pray for the women, theirfamilies, and the possibility for them to

lead a better life.

Log on to www.juaproject.org to learn

more, call their ofce at (763) 273-7911

or email Lindsay at [email protected] to help.

Lindsay Erhardt bonds with children in Kenya.

Forum Communications le photo

Erhardt sells Jua Project jewelry in July 2012 at

the Downtown Fargo Street Fair.

I really desire to see an entire community changed andbe on its way out of poverty. I wanted them to see hope,like a bright light coming out of our compound ... Jua.

Lindsay Erhardt, founder of Jua Project14 | Diva Connection Magazine Spring/Summer 2013

Global connection


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Inspiringempowerment

By Nicole Phillips | Executive director of Diva Connection

Womans generosity inspires hope


Roxanne Miller was like many other women surng the Diva

Connection website, wondering, How do I know these

stories are legit? Which one of these women really needs my

help?

Thats when she came upon Nadines story. In one short

paragraph, Roxanne could see herself, as she was 17 years ago a mother, alone, scared, hurting and not sure where to turnfor help. Roxanne knew Nadine needed her. What Roxanne

didnt know was how badly she was needed.

Photo by Laura Caroon, Frozen Music Studios


Diva connection


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Just days before, Nadine was crying in hercar having a one-sided conversation with

God. She felt she was doing everything

right: working three jobs,watching her spending

and making her young

son her top priority. But

she was falling behind.If she couldnt make her

car payment soon, she

would lose the vehicle.

Without transportation, she would lose her

jobs and eventually her apartment. Nadinewas telling God she needed a miracle. God

was listening.Roxanne gave Nadine $1,200 to get

current on her car payments. Then she gave

her money for gas and a gift card for Space

Aliens so Nadine and her son could let go

of the stresses of life and have some fun.

That generosity could seem like a simple

handout if you didnt know the rest of the

story. Nadine took that act of kindness

and spread it like wildre. She immediately

posted on the website again, this time

offering up her sonsoutgrown clothing and

encouraging women

to have the strength to

ask for help. She found

another woman in the

community who needed ajob and hired her to assist

in cleaning houses. She gave two free hours

of cleaning to a new mom of twins on a

tight budget.

Nadine has found her voice and is a

powerful force for good in this community,

thanks to the generosity of one woman,Roxanne, who believed in her.

Thats the power of connection. Thats the

power of Diva Connection.


Nadine was tellingGod she neededa miracle. God waslistening.

Be part of our missionGrow your business and help others by getting involved in theDiva Connection Magazine mission. A portion of all advertisinggoes to the Diva Connection Foundation.

Email Jaclyn King at [email protected] or call (701) 451-5661for advertising information.

Empower each other, impact the world.

Visit DivaConnection.org


Diva connection


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Thepower

ofc

From left: Chris Linnares Marcil, Stephanie Goetz,Susan Mathison, Kerstin Kealy, Nicole Phillips and

Debra Dawson.



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nnectionomen are more connected than ever, and its

changing our culture.

Social media use by women has surpassed mens usage

since 2009. In December 2012, 71 percent of Americanwomen used social networking sites compared with only 62

percent of men, according to a Pew Internet study.

But what does this mean forwomen? What does it mean forsociety? And how can we use it fordoing good?

Connection is the key.Alyssa Greve, social mediastrategist at Sundog, a Fargo-basedcompany offering online andofine marketing and technologyservices, says the benets of

social media are great when usedcorrectly.

Sharing life with far-away relativesand investing in relationships withbusiness clients are opportunitiescreated by online venues. Greve

encourages further developing ofinerelationships online.Its the connection that denes

the relationship, and carrying thatconnection to online and socialmedia can be a benecial edge ofbusiness or icing to the cake of

W




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personal relationships. And for passionate

users like Greve, its the untapped potential

to do more and through a larger sphere that

keep them coming back for more.

Online platforms also open the door to

new relationships. Greve has built her sidephotography business off this concept.

Im able to come across new

photographers. With social (media), you can

build new relationships with people you may

have never met, Greve says.

Finally, Greve champions social media for

its ability to inspire.It provides people an avenue to share

ideas with those who want them. Sharing

those ideas gives them the avenue to make

things happen.

Connecting with others when sharing

ideas can create a catalyst for social change.

Women connecting based on social causes

have reason to celebrate.

Diva Connection Foundation works to linkwomen through social media to build real-life

connections that can make changes in others

lives.

Each of us has a story of a connection so

important its changed the course of the rest

of our life.

Six of the most inuential women inFargo-Moorhead share their stories of

powerful connections.


When Dr. Susan Mathison opened theCatalyst Medical Center, she hoped to formconnections with her patients. She never

dreamed one of those connections wouldchange her life forever.

Mathison, the oldest of seven children, hadalways hoped to have a big family of her own.

I thought three (children) would be a goodnumber, she says.

But when Mathison and her husbanddecided it was time to start having kids, theyran into some difculties.

They tried for ve years, suffering the painof several miscarriages.

Miscarriages are very disappointing andsad, she says. When you are an older-than-average mom-to-be, you are almosttold that you shouldnt be surprised that thishappened.After the miscarriages, Mathison was on

the verge of giving up completely.

Thats when she made a connection withone of her patients that changed her life.The patient had recently adopted two

children and had heard that Mathison wastrying to have kids.

She put the word in someone elses ear,Mathison says. She facilitated an adoption.Within a couple of months, Mathison

and her husband were welcoming Grant, a

newborn baby boy, into their lives.

I call him my wish granted, she says.

If it wouldnt have been for that special

connection with her patient, Mathison mightnever have become a mother.

Now, she spends all her free time with

5-year-old Grant and says she cant imagine

her life without him.

Its amazing to see the world through a

childs eyes, she says. Simple things inspire

wonder, curiosity.

Dr. Susan MathisonCatalyst Medical Center

Doctors wish granted



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For more than a decade, Kerstin Kealy ofWDAY-TV has brought Fargo-Moorhead

news into our living rooms, but she may

never have become our trusted newswoman

if it wasnt for an important connection.

Studying broadcast journalism at Minnesota

State University Moorhead, Kealy spent her

college years helping run a campus newsprogram. During those growing years, Marv

Bossart, an MSUM instructor and then-

WDAY anchorman, taught her the skill of

news writing.

The pair built a good classroomrelationship, but it was in the spring of 1997,

when Kealy was graduating and searching fora job, that the connection with her teacher

made all the difference.

The college senior brought in her tape and

resume to the news director at WDAY. Kealy

was told she didnt have enough experience.

Leaving Kealy to do some writing samples,

the news director was stopped in the hallwayby Bossart.

You really need to give this girl a chance,

Bossart told the news director.

The news director listened to the 40-year

news veteran and hired Kealy as an intern. She

was offered a job as a reporter weeks later.

Eventually, she anchored with Bossart himself.

My legs would be shaking under the set I

would be so nervous, and he would crack ajoke or lean over and say something risque,

Kealy says. He would try to get you to not

take yourself so seriously. There was never a

dull moment with him.

Kealy still visited Bossart in his assisted-

living facility up until his death last month.

He continue(d) to be one of my biggestcheerleaders, she says.

The young anchorwoman looks back on

the connection and says she doesnt know

where she would be without his faith in her.

He saw something in me that he was

willing to ght for and willing to speak about,

and I am forever grateful, Kealy says.

Kerstin KealyAnchor/producer WDAY-TV News

Anchor pays tribute to mentor, colleague

Forum Communications Co. le photo

WDAY news anchor Marv Bossart is comfortedby Kerstin Kealy during his fnal newscast onMarch 24, 2000. Bossart died April 23.



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Stepping up as director of DivaConnection was more than a life movefor Nicole Phillips. It was a leap of faith.The opportunity to lead the foundation

came through a powerful connection

with God.

Two years ago, I was a full-time,

stay-at-home mom, Phillips says. I had

retired from my job of working as a news

anchor on FOX because I wanted to bewith my kids, but what I found was that I

was lacking passion in my life.

At that time, Phillips met Chris

Linnares, founder of Diva Connection, at

an event. Linnares invited Phillips to join

her and a friend for a Bible study.

I had never been in a Bible study

before, and I just thought, What theyhey, Ill give it a shot, Phillips says.

We really used that Bible study to

do some tremendous growth that we

wouldnt have done had it not been for

this connection with the three of us and

God.Through those relationships, two

opportunities arose. The rst opportunity

was a chance for Phillips to write herweekly Kindness is contagious column

for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

The second opportunity realized

dreams for both Phillips and Linnares.In their study, Linnares shared she

would like to expand her new foundation,

Diva Connection, and for a director,

someone with passion for the mission

and time to commit for free.Phillips, who had been praying to God

to work through her life for others, sawthis need as an answer to prayer.

I feel like its my life mission to be a

part of this, Phillips says. I love the

fact that I am a woman that other women

come to for help or advice.

Taking a leapof faith

Nicole PhillipsExecutive director ofDiva Connection Foundation


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When Deb Dawson of Fargo metJoseph Akol Makeer in 2007, she had no ideawhat impact the connection would have on

her life.

Dawson has always had a heart for orphans.

More than a decade ago, she adopted three

orphan girls and raised them as her own.In 2007, she was introduced to Makeer,

another orphan, one of the Lost Boys of

Sudan.

Makeer escaped his village in the late 1980sand spent 11 years at a refugee camp in

Kenya. He told Dawson about his life as an

orphan and how he had raised his youngersiblings.

He wanted to return to the village and

help orphans, Dawson says. He thought if

he could make a movie, if American people

saw a movie, they would be moved to help.

Dawson initially thought she would connectMakeer with the right person to make themovie but later took on the responsibility

herself.

As it turns out, you have to kind of see a

lm through, she says. You have to have

a lot of passion and determination because

there are a lot of obstacles along the way.

Dawson had made four short lms while

working on her masters degree in creativewriting, so she had the skills and the

knowledge needed.

They held a fundraiser at the Fargo Theatre

and raised money to send a team of fourto Kenya to shoot the lm in December of

2007.

There were no programs for (the

orphans), Dawson says. Theyre working.

They dont go to school, theyre usuallymarried off before puberty ... and so we

came back with the idea to build a boardingschool and decided to focus on girls.

After a few years of planning and

fundraising, Dawson was able to start a small

program for the orphan girls. In March 2012,

they started with 12 girls at the boarding

school. They now have 23 girls and are

expected to have 30 girls by May. They hopeto eventually reach 50 girls.

Our mission is protect, educate,

empower, she says. We protect the girls

from forced marriage at puberty. We educate

the girls in school subjects and practical skills.

We empower them to be leaders and give

back to their communities.

Debra DawsonAfrican Soul,American Heartfounder

lntroduction leads to film, project of passion


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It takes one connection tochange a life.This was true for Chris

Linnares, founder of DivaConnection. Through herfoundation, she hopes tomake it true for women in

Fargo-Moorhead, acrossthe country and all over the

world.The successful counselor

and author for womensissues in Sao Paulo, Brazil,moved to L.A., where shemet Bill Marcil Jr. througha mutual friend. The two

fell in love, married, andLinnares moved to Fargo tobegin a new life with him.

Living in a new countryproved to be a major lifechallenge for Linnares.

That was a difcult butpowerful time for me totruly connect with God,

Linnares says. I losteverything that I knew, butit was an opportunity for meto grow.

Learning English,struggling with postpartumdepression after the birthof her daughter and lookingfor purpose in a difcult

time led to a connectionthat would change LinnaresFargo life.A new friend opened

her door to Linnares. She

took the young Brazilian to

Fargos best eateries, cared

for her daughter and helped

Chris to feel connected.A few years later, as this

friend was going through

a divorce, she was left withno money or place to turn.Linnares opened her homeand started sending emailsto contacts to help her friendnd a lawyer.

My friend didnt qualifyfor any social services. Theonly way out of her situation

was through the help offriends.

It was in that moment ofreaching out that Linnaresfelt the need to create ways

for women to use the powerof connection to empowereach other. This friendshipinspired the initial seed ofDiva Connection.

Linnares hopes the linksand friendships women makethrough Diva Connection

will help to change their lives

and bring social change to

Fargo-Moorhead and many

other communities.

Just oneconnectioncan change

your life

Chris LinnaresAuthor, psychotherapist

and founder of DivaConnection Foundation


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When Stephanie Goetzs brother diedof suicide in 2002, hed been diagnosed withdepression for a year.

We knew, but he didnt tell any of hisfriends, Goetz says. I believe he was afraidof what theyd think.

Last year, the Valley News Live newsanchor had a vision to help children withmental illness.

Goetz says she wanted to start a foundationin Fargo-Moorhead that would erase thestigmas associated with mental illnesses.Although she had the vision, passion and

connections, Goetz lacked the resourcesand business knowledge to actually start anonprot organization. In the fall of 2012,Goetz connected with Pat Traynor, presidentof the Dakota Medical Foundation, whohelped ll in those missing pieces.

Pat said, We can be your physical sponsor,and we do everything for you, Goetz recalls.Through the Dakota Medical Foundation,

Traynor was able to help nd funds forGoetz and kick-start the Stephanie GoetzFoundation, an organization dedicated to

helping those with mental illness.Basically, they do all the paperwork for

you, so you can focus on the people, Goetzsays. I was off the ground running.

Goetz wanted to start a program to trainteachers and counselors how to identifystudents struggling with mental illness butknew they were already overwhelmed withother duties.

I met Read Sulik, vice president ofbehavioral health at Sanford, Goetz says.He said, Lets not reinvent the wheel;theres already a program working in St.Cloud.

Mimicking the program in St. Cloud, Sulikand Goetz plan to hire triage therapists to

work within schools, identifying the studentswho are struggling with mental illness and

getting them to a health provider for long-term care.

I had no idea sitting in that room thatday that that would be the beginning ofsomething remarkably great and life-changing, Goetz says. This is only thebeginning of something really great, andthese relationships will continue to ourish.

Finding the missing pieces

Stephanie GoetzAnchor at Valley News Live,Stephanie Goetz Foundation founder


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Divas ideas for summer

I love going to the races at theWest Fargo Red River Valley Speed

Way. (redrivervalleyfair.com)

Sheri Paulson

Little Pink BookWomen you know | Recommendations you can trust

Diva Connection Foundation polled hundreds of women in Fargo-

Moorhead to nd out which businesses, events and services theyrecommend.

Think of it as the best place to nd what to do this summer, where

to eat, where to shop, where to pamper yourself and more.

Do you have a business or event youd like to recommend? Email

them to [email protected].

Attend a movie in the park at Island Park

(fargoparks.com). It is free, and you can evenbring your dog.

Heather Ostrowski

Bring my daughter to the Red River Zoo

(redriverzoo.org). Go golng at one of the Fargo

Parks Golf Courseswith my husband or girlfriends.

Roxanne Maris Ellis

I love to go dancing at the Hotel Shoreham on Lake Melissa when the

Front Fenders are playing.

NancyLee Loftsgard



33/40

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D & M Roong (dmroong.us ) did a wonderful job. It went fast, and

they cleaned up my yard and ower beds better than they were before

they started!

Sonja Meline

Accent cleaning (chooseaccent1.com) are always so nice and easy to

work with.

Heather Ostrowski

Health care provider

Dr. Laqua at Essentia Health(essentiahealth.org). She is a very nice per-

son, always listens carefully to our concerns and does her best.

Gunel Huseynova

Dr. Gupta at Essentia Health. It only took her two months to nd out

what my obscure syndrome was. She kept at it until she had an answer.

Sonja Meline

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Autumn Wagnerat the north-

side Sanford Clinic (sanfordhealth.org). I trust her;

she is a fabulous listener; she is a professional, caring

woman.

Kathy Cieslak

Matt Tollefson at Opp Construction (oppconstruction.

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35/40

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Art Materials and Tandy Leather

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Nursery(shotwelloral.com). Stevie Famulari

Pamper yourself

Nail Bar(nailbarfargo.com) on Broadway. The best pedicurists/

manicurists in town. These ladies know how to pamper a little wine at

the same time never hurt anyone!

Lynette Burgan

Hair Success Day Spa (hairsuccesssalons.com) massage and herbal

steam shower. The steam shower is amazing!

Jaime Paulson

T.J.Maxx(tjmaxx.com), I love buying designer bags and european choco-

lates and candies there.

Gunel Huseynova

The Source(thesource.com). Amanda Torres does a

great job with haircuts, styling, waxing and shoulder mas-

sage (all in one sitting). I feel so much better after just

taking a little time for myself.

Mary Murchie

I love the local boutiques in town, like SHANNALEE, Lauries and Proper

& Prim.

Melissa Lindemoen



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Glam green lifestyle

Eco Chic (beingecochic.com). I love all the products in

that store!

Jodie Harvala

Melaleuca(melaleuca.com) products and Scheels Home and Hardware

(scheelshomeandhardware.com).

Sheri Fercho

Best tastes in town

Sarellos (sarellos.com) sea bass (but I LOVE their entire menu). I have

never had a bad meal there!

Marcie VeseyJuanos (701-232-3123) downtown. Everything is

so fresh. The chimis are decadent.

Nicole Welle Nere

The Shack on Broadway(shackonbroadway.com).I would order the eggs

Benedict. It reminds me of my hometown cafe.

Stephanie Maier

How divas get in shape

Dance Fit (dancetnd.com)is the bomb! (located in the

basement of Catalyst with health pros) Not only can

you burn 600-800 calories, you get to shake yourbootie with the fabulous instructors!

Tracy Cater

Spin class every morning at 5:30 a.m. at Courts Plus (courtsplus.org). Or

Zumba with Sandie Anders at Family Wellness (familywellnessfargo.com)

love her! She sure knows how to bring in the crowd and get them

shaking!

Sonya Jeanotte



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Dreams for our community

Whole Foods store and a Dunkin Donuts shop.

Holly Holden-Eklund

An adult day care centerwhere adults with disabilities could go during

the day, allowing them to get out of the home, have interaction with

others and do activities. This would also offer their families a break andopportunities to work and better provide for them.

Sheri Paulson

Divas you should know

The most amazing woman I know is my best friend, Mary Gotta. As a

busy mother of nine children and one grandchild, Mary is always there

to lend a hand, listen and give support. She is a prayer warrior, and I amblessed to have her in my life. She is so beautiful, but she doesnt know

she is; very humble and grateful for everything.

Jeanne Erickson

The MOST AMAZING woman in town is Nancy Jordheim, assistant

superintendent for Fargo Public Schools. She is an advocate for children,

a mentor, a volunteer and a fabulous role model for women who want

to have an impact on the world!

Kathy Cieslak

A gigantic indoor water park. Lynette Burgan

June Johnson. She started a tradition of having coffee time on Fridays for

international women where I met many nice people during my rst year

in Fargo. Gunel Huseynova

Little

Pink

Book



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l nspiration happens when you least expectit.

Open up and let life in, said a TVcommercial for a popular toothpaste.

Letting life get to you, in all its glory,

disappointment, joy and occasional

heartbreak is what its all about. Making

connections and opening the door to yourheart and mind is the key to life.

To me, connection is taking time to engage

and be fully present with another person

or even a particular moment. It is a sparkof possibility for a richer, more meaningful

experience.

The key to connection is successfulcommunication. Small talk can become a

portal to sharing bigger ideas. It may be the

waitress you ask a thoughtful question about

her day, the cabbie who gives you the inside

scoop or a co-worker who opens up andshares her life challenges.

Connections may be planned orserendipitous. The outcome is unknown,

but you never know when a moment in

time leads to a new friend, a new job, a new

adventure, a start-up company or even a

marriage proposal.

Connection gives us the opportunity to

change the world in big and small ways, andwe receive unexpected gifts.

Several years ago, my husband and I were

heading to a friends wedding in the Prince

Charles Islands off British Columbia. It

would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

We arrived at the Vancouver airport very

early to nd that the small plane had been

Open yourself to

finding inspirationBy Dr. Susan Mathison

Catalyst Medical Center

oversold by dozens and that a shing group

took precedence over our reservation. The

next available ight wouldnt get us thereuntil late in the evening ... after the wedding.

We sat down to lament alongside another

bumped passenger. We chatted for a whileand learned he was planning to meet some

shing friends but wasnt in the big group.

He made a couple of calls, then offered us a

lift. He had chartered a private plane, so we

made it to the wedding in style.

In our busy lives, technology sometimeslimits our opportunities to connect andcan make us feel isolated. It makes a kind

word, a meaningful exchange, a warm hug, a

delightful phone call or an unexpected letter

even more precious.

Research has shown that babies in

orphanages failed to thrive even though

their material needs were met by the well-intentioned but busy staff. They lacked

sufcient human connection. So connection

can even be lifesaving.

Perhaps you will be the one whose effort to

encourage and support another person will

be the factor that saves their lives.

We all have great capacity for meaningfulconnections when we open up and let life in.

Howard Zinn said it well: Small acts,when multiplied by millions of people, can

transform the world.

Dr. Susan Mathison, a Diva Connection board

member, founded Catalyst Medical Center in

Fargo, N.D., and created PositivelyBeautiful.com.

Diva Voice invites a guest wr iter to share her viewof the world and how to make a difference in it.Diva voices


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Diva Connection Magazine