After its initial publication in 1993, this book quickly became an essential book for country music scholars and fans. Now back in print, with updated material, an additional chapter, and new photos, this volume is poised to reach a whole new generation of country music fans. From country's earliest pioneers to its greatest legends, this book documents the lives of the female artists who have shaped the music for over two hundred years. Through interviews, photos, and primary texts, the authors weave a vast and complex tapestry of personalities and talent. Long overlooked and underappreciated by scholars, female country music artists have always been immensely popular with fans. This book gets to the heart of the special bond female artists have with their audiences. People seeking to understand the context out of which mega-stars such as Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and the Dixie Chicks emerged need look no farther than this book.

The NPR talk show host discusses her life, her career, and her battle with spasmodic dysphonia.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Finalist for the NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Literary Work" "Valerie has been one of Barack and my closest confidantes for decades... the world would feel a lot better if there were more people like Valerie blazing the trail for the rest of us."--Michelle Obama "The ultimate Obama insider" (The New York Times) and longest-serving senior advisor in the Obama White House shares her journey as a daughter, mother, lawyer, business leader, public servant, and leader in government at a historic moment in American history. When Valerie Jarrett interviewed a promising young lawyer named Michelle Robinson in July 1991 for a job in Chicago city government, neither knew that it was the first step on a path that would end in the White House. Jarrett soon became Michelle and Barack Obama's trusted personal adviser and family confidante; in the White House, she was known as the one who "got" him and helped him engage his public life. Jarrett joined the White House team on January 20, 2009 and departed with the First Family on January 20, 2017, and she was in the room--in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, and everywhere else--when it all happened. No one has as intimate a view of the Obama Years, nor one that reaches back as many decades, as Jarrett shares in Finding My Voice. Born in Iran (where her father, a doctor, sought a better job than he could find in segregated America), Jarrett grew up in Chicago in the 60s as racial and gender barriers were being challenged. A single mother stagnating in corporate law, she found her voice in Harold Washington's historic administration, where she began a remarkable journey, ultimately becoming one of the most visible and influential African-American women of the twenty-first century. From her work ensuring equality for women and girls, advancing civil rights, reforming our criminal justice system, and improving the lives of working families, to the real stories behind some of the most stirring moments of the Obama presidency, Jarrett shares her forthright, optimistic perspective on the importance of leadership and the responsibilities of citizenship in the twenty-first century, inspiring readers to lift their own voices.

Find the strength and confidence needed to speak up, be heard, and assert yourself in a world filled with microaggressions and discrimination. Have you experienced stress, frustration, anger, or sadness as a Black girl in a predominantly White space? Have there been times when you were the only Black voice to speak up in class or in a social situation? Maybe you have felt lonely as the only Black person in a group. Unfortunately, you are far from alone. However, there are steps you can take to build self-empowerment, develop skills to address microaggressions, and explore your feelings and experiences in a meaningful way. This workbook can help you get started. Written by three powerful women who are lifelong advocates for racial justice, Finding Her Voice provides activities and exercises to help you challenge dominant culture, cultivate self-compassion and self-confidence, and build resilience in a world still filled with microaggressions and discrimination. You’ll learn how to navigate awkward or difficult situations at school, with friends, and on social media. You’ll also find real stories from other teens who share your experiences. By reading about situations faced by other Black girls in White spaces and responding to the critical questions and exercises in the workbook, you’ll learn to recognize and address some of the challenges unique to the Black girl experience. Finally, you’ll learn to strengthen your wonderful sense of self and own your power, and discover ways to share your amazing gifts with the world.

‘This book is brilliant! It will change lives.’ - Suzy Walker, Editor-in-Chief, Psychologies 'A fantastic guide to speaking up and overcoming insecurities by the best voice coach ever.' - Viv Groskop, author of How to Own the Room Speak up and stand out Whether you want more social confidence in your day-to-day life, are hosting an event or appearing on a podcast, Find Your Voice will empower you to be bold, be present and captivate any audience. Based on decades of helping broadcasters, celebrities, teachers and top level professionals speak effortlessly in front of others, renowned voice teacher and communication expert Caroline Goyder will show you how to: · Harness the full potential of your body, breath and voice · Genuinely connect to others in a dizzyingly distracted world · Stand out as calm speaker whatever the situation

It's Amaya's first month at a new school in a new state, and she's too scared to speak. Amaya has a stutter. At her old school she got bullied for how she talked, but she had finally just started making friends. And then her mom got a new job and moved them to DC, where she had to start all over again! Now Amaya is mad at her mom and scared at school. The only friend she shares her feelings with is her dog, Journey, who can talk back! If Amaya doesn't start speaking soon, she'll keep getting in trouble and will never make friends. Can Journey and her classmates help Amaya find her voice? The authors of this story are part of an innovative program run by Reach Incorporated. Reach develops grade-level readers and capable leaders by preparing teens to serve as tutors and role models for younger students, resulting in improved literacy outcomes for both. Learn more at reachincorporated.org. Books were created in collaboration with Shout Mouse Press. Shout Mouse is a nonprofit writing program and publishing house for unheard voices. Through writing workshops designed for all levels of literacy, Shout Mouse empowers writers from marginalized backgrounds to tell their own stories in their own voices and, as published authors, to act as agents of change. Learn more at shoutmousepress.org

An artist's unique voice is their calling card. It's what makes each of their works vital and particular. But developing such singular artistry requires effort and persistence. Bestselling author, artist, and illustrator Lisa Congdon brings her expertise to this guide to the process of artistic self-discovery. Featuring advice from Congdon herself and interviews with a roster of established artists, illustrators, and creatives, this one-of-a-kind book will show readers how to identify and nurture their own visual identity, navigate the influence of artists they admire, push through fear and insecurity, and appreciate the value of their personal journey.