Category Archives: Development
Double Latte Project May 2011: Shea Yeleen
This month’s Double Latte Selection is Shea Yeleen, an organization that is improving the lives of women in rural Western Africa through sustainable development. The company has a series of products from shea butter to lip balms to soaps.
Double Latte Connection – People in DNMP’s Network
I had the pleasure of meeting the founder of this great organization, Rahama Wright, at a Montgomery County [MD] Women’s Commission event when I lived in Washington, D.C. We definitely hit it off and it was nice to meet another woman who wanted to make a difference and was actively doing so. When I interact with people like Rahama it always makes me think, “Why don’t I go ahead and make moves on the projects that I have in mind to make a difference. Their projects started as ideas.”
Because this is a sustainable development business, in addition to my normal Double Latte contribution of $10.10, I am going to purchase one of the products from the Shea Yaheen store. I am going to try something new so I will post what I decide to get. I have already tried the Shea Butter and I really like it. I even like the container that it comes it, very easy to transport.
Why Shea Yeleen?
Beyond the personal network connection, one of the reasons why I chose to highlight this organization is because it is giving people, specifically women, tools to make a living not just giving them a hand out. Shea Yeleen is not about collecting donations to just give money to those in need but they are about taking a skill that is already in use and giving people a market and business skills to be able to take the original skill to the next level. And bonus is the fact that these people are women!
To close, I always enjoy supporting companies like this because I know that my few dollars are going to help someone put food on their table and make a positive difference in their life.
You can find this company on Twitter and Facebook. Please follow and like them! Furthermore, please check out their store and make a purchase!
About Shea Yeleen – From Their Website
Shea Yeleen International, Inc. is an organization representing the issues and concerns of rural West African producers of shea butter. We believe in improving the livelihoods of communities by connecting rural communities to international markets in an effort to compete in an increasingly global economy. Through collective community development and support of cooperatives, we bring local issues to consumers interested in learning where their products originate from, and who want to use their consumer power to make a difference in the world.
Our project combines grassroots development with business development and the goal is to improve economic conditions in some of the most impoverished communities of the world. We focus on local resources that can be properly linked to international markets by seeking fair prices for traditional commodities. Through practical solutions, community engagement, resource development, and exceptional marketing, SYI is pioneering change for women producers of shea butter, and their communities!
Links of the Week 5 Feburary 2010
This week is light on politics but I still hope you enjoy!
Happy Reading,
DNMP
Tale from Black History/Photo of the Week
Henrietta Lacks and her husband David in 1945.
Henrietta Lacks’ ‘Immortal’ Cells
Top Five
Even though we are only one month into the new year, I feel like we have lost so many people. Well this feeling hit closer to home with the loss of Howard Zinn. Professor Zinn, a former professor at my Alma Mater Spelman College, spent his life fighting against the status quo. Check out this video link and I encourage you to read his book “A People’s History of the United States.” I now see a need to read this book now more than ever!
Against Discouragement – 2005 Spelman College Commencement Speech by Howard Zinn
Professor Zinn spoke at my commencement speech in 2005 and now that my five year college reunion is quickly approaching and nostalgia increasing these words are more heightened than ever.
This article has great arguments for both sides of the issue. A must read especially for those who have young women in their lives.
Building Haiti’s Economy, One Mango at a Time
Alpha Kappa Alpha Lawsuit Dismissed
Quote of the Week
“My hope is that whatever you do to make a good life for yourself—whether you become a teacher, or social worker, or business person, or lawyer, or poet, or scientist — you will devote part of your life to making this a better world for your children, for all children. My hope is that your generation will demand an end to war, that your generation will do something that has not yet been done in history and wipe out the national boundaries that separate us from other human beings on this earth.” Howard Zinn 1922-2010
Video of the Week
How to Get Our Democracy Back: Lawrence Lessig
The link above is to the full video and the clip above is the shorter YouTube video of the segment.
Politico
N.J. Gov. Christie Vetos Delaware River and Bay Authority Budget
Barack Obama Attends Georgetown-Duke Basketball Game
So this is borderline politics but I thought this was a cute segment. Nice to see the President humanized.
Women & Politics
En Español
Reciben primeros 700 taxis amarillos de tres mil que circularán en Santo Domingo
Other
Learn About Amy’s Organic Kitchen
Oprah did a feature on one of my favorite food companies, Amy’s. Check out the video and check out Amy’s at your local grocer.
Traveling as a Vegan Requires the Proper Frame of Mind
Oldies But Goodies
Johsua Allen Harris’ Inflatable Bag Monsters
Battle of the Bags: Paper vs. Plastic
A great interactive feature that will allow you to assess your impact on the environment if you decrease your use of paper and/or plastic bags.
