Featured as a career and workforce expert in Essence Magazine (September 2008 and April 2009), as well as in Black Enterprise Magazine (March 2009), social entrepreneur, international business and leadership coach, and author, Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe announced the launch of the Circle of 99 during the recent Barbados Manufacturing Expedition 2009 (BMEX).  The Circle of 99 is a think tank for women and girls that focuses on their personal and leadership development, as well as provides entrepreneurial and career planning support.

     For seasoned, emerging, and the would be entrepreneur, the Circle of 99 is a personal, business and leadership network for women around the globe. Sharing knowledge, career and life wisdom; hosting events, and mobilizing women worldwide, women and girls are being invited to step into the circle and then guide its growth into their communities. The intent is to create of Circle of 99 on every island, in the 50 states, Canada, and selected communities worldwide.

     The benefits of joining the circle are numerous; women will share knowledge, resources and barter services; career and business development training and information will be provided online and during local seminars, Circle of 99 assembled life and career experts will share wisdom with women and girls in the circle so that they too can create and enjoy more fulfilling lives. Using inventive technology provided by sponsors CaribVoice Radio and 365 Web Radio, Dr. DeFoe will be afforded the capacity to link with all of the women in the circle at any given time.

   A columnist with She Caribbean (St. Lucia), and the author of several books which include, A Woman’s Guide to Soulful Living: Seven Keys to Life and Work Success; Tropical Escapes, a novel; and the just released, Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons For Women As They Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom, DeFoe works to inspire individuals and organizations to greatness. In her groundbreaking new book, Follow Her Lead: she has penned ten compelling leadership fables which unlike ever before ignite a lively discussion about the competencies and practices essential for today’s emerging and seasoned leaders, who just happen to be female.

     A CARIBVOICE Radio host, dynamic motivational teacher and knowledge facilitator, Davis-DeFoe has blended years of pedagogical and practical experience to fashion this newest informational resource which teaches both women and girls the technical and humanistic competencies essential for leading and career development. Dr. DeFoe is a sought after keynote and conference speaker, trainer and workshop knowledge facilitator across the United States, the Caribbean and Africa. Weekly, her show can be heard on CaribVoiceRadio.org, Wednesdays from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time.  The praise for this new book which was launched during the March 2009 Women’s Leadership Conference at St. Johns University in New York, at a book signing sponsored by Target, has been stellar.

     Suggesting ten pathways to leadership greatness, the inspirational, development visionary shared, “I am excited about this book, as it provides women and young ladies an opportunity to explore the personal and technical competencies critical to becoming an impactful leader. Writing Follow Her Lead allowed me to mesh storytelling, imagination, management and leadership principles thus giving the reader an active learning experience, while reflecting on personal leadership strengths and opportunities for improvement. My aim is to elevate the understanding and practice of leadership among women so that we become more comfortable in acknowledging and unleashing the greatness within. Follow Her Lead is ideal for personal development, as well as for staff development sessions, leadership and organization development training circles, supplemental reading for college courses and management training programs, an insightful resource guide for women at all stages of their career journey.”

     With a warm smile, when asked why she felt compelled to create the Circle of 99 movement, Davis-DeFoe commented, “This is an opportunity for women to harness the knowledge, skills and support that often goes untapped. Too often, women suffer in silence or feel uncomfortable reaching out to other women because sometimes we do not know how to, or feel threatened mentoring and coaching one another. The Circle of 99 represents an elevated mode of thinking, a chance for women to learn how to work in collaborative, cooperative partnership so that we all can truly manifest our destinies, experience personal joy and greater fulfillment. The number nine is of spiritual significance as it represents divine completeness, for no matter what you multiply the number by and then add its product, the sum is always nine…hence this circle can be a source of unity which serves to uplift the individual, the family and ultimately community.”

   Dr. DeFoe was the keynote speaker at the June 6th book launch of Caymanian Catherine Tyson, who just released a delightful new book entitled, I Am Somebody’s Mama.

   Women who are interested in learning how to create such a circle for women or girls, or to become the Circle of 99 Ambassador on your island contact Dr. DeFoe at dradefoe@gmail.com. To learn more about Dr. DeFoe and her work visit her at  

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Below is a statement issued by concerned Catholic organizations in the U.S., including the Center of Concern, condemning the President's strategy in Iraq and calling for an alternative policy of diplomacy and development. We invite you to read the statement and your thoughts on U.S. engagement in Iraq.

RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL FOR A CHANGE OF COURSE IN IRAQ
January, 2007

On January 10, 2007, President Bush announced a change in Iraq policy. We, as organizations of Catholics and as individuals, come together to respond to these new Iraq initiatives.

We respond in the context of Jesus' call to us in the beatitudes to be people of peace (Matt 5:9), and to love our enemies (Luke 6:27) as well as the November 2006 statement by the President of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William S. Skylstad. In that statement, Bishop Skylstad notes that the pain and destruction of the war in Iraq is "measured in lives lost and many more injured, in widespread sectarian strife, civil insurgency and terrorist attacks, and in the daily struggles of Iraqis to build a decent future for their devastated nation." He noted further that the way forward is bleak and stated that "The Holy See and our Conference now support broad and necessary international engagement to promote stability and reconstruction in Iraq."

We are keenly aware that the members of the U.S. military and their families are shouldering the heavy burdens of extended service in Iraq. They risk death and injury of both body and spirit. However, it is crucial to recognize that political and economic concerns, not military issues, are fueling the continuing strife. Therefore, only solutions that combine the political, diplomatic, economic and religious issues Iraqis face will effectively resolve the underlying conflict and bring peace to Iraq. As the last three years have demonstrated, increasing the U.S. troop presence in Iraq will neither address the root causes of civil strife nor quell the violence. Increased U.S. military action will needlessly endanger our troops and detract from effective action to achieve a cease-fire and create peace. Therefore, the escalation of military presence in Iraq is detrimental to our men and women in the armed forces.

The escalation of military action is far more harmful to Iraqi citizens who are paying the ultimate price in ever-increasing numbers through violence, hunger and lack of ordinary services. Every day, more and more ordinary Iraqis are fleeing their homes and becoming refugees – either within Iraq or in neighboring countries. This dislocation spreads religious, economic and political instability around the region, making it increasingly difficult to handle the influx of those traumatized by this war. The escalation of military action is detrimental to the Iraqi people and the surrounding region.

United States citizens are keenly aware that the military is not an effective tool for bringing peace to Iraq. U.S. citizens understand that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war that requires the engagement of all parties in a peace process in order to resolve the issues. Military action in this context only brings more violence and bloodshed and no end to this conflict. The escalation of military action is detrimental the desires of people of the United States.

Finally, only those in the military and their families are sacrificing for the sake of this war. There has been no effort to finance this war with taxes or other military offsets and the war has been funded without consideration of its impact on the overall federal budget. This fiscal irresponsibility will hamper future generations as they are forced to pay the bills for this generation's war. The escalation of military action is detrimental to the economic future of the United States.

THEREFORE:

We oppose the proposed escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq noting that prior escalations have not resulted in increased peace and stability. Troop escalations in Baghdad in the late summer and early fall of 2006 resulted in increased violence and death for both U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians.
We support the President's call for economic development in Iraq, noting that the current unemployment rate is running at 40 to 50%. Additionally, 60% of the population is under the age of 25 and is in dire need of alternatives to imagine a better future. Any economic development should directly benefit the Iraqi people and their communities, not contractors from other corners of the world.
We urge the President to engage in diplomatic and political negotiations seeking a comprehensive cease fire by all factions in Iraq and the region. The rejection of a comprehensive diplomatic effort is a short-sighted view of American interests. A surge of diplomacy, not an escalation of troops is what is required.
SIMONE CAMPBELL, SSS, Executive Director
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

CAROLE SHINNICK, SSND, Executive Director
Leadership Conference of Women Religious

T. MICHAEL McNULTY, SJ, Justice and Peace Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men

ALEXIA KELLEY, Executive Director
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

DAVID A. ROBINSON, Executive Director
Pax Christi USA.

JIM HUG, SJ, President
Center of Concern

MARIE DENNIS, Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

JOE MOLONEY, OSF, President
Franciscan Federation of the United States

AMY WOOLAM ECHEVERRIA
Columban JPIC Office

JANET GOTTSCHALK, MMS, Director
Medical Mission Sisters' Alliance for Justice

FRANK McNEIRNEY, National Coordinator
Catholics Against Capital Punishment (CACP)

SEAMUS FINN, OMI, Director,
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Office

About Author

Anita Davis-DeFoe, is the author of “A Woman’s Guide to Soulful Living: Seven Keys to Life and Work Success,” “Follow Her Lead:Leadership Lessons For Women As They Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom” “Tropical Escapes,” and the host of Soulfully Speaking on CaribVoiceRadio.