I'M PART OF OPRAH'S SUPER SOUL 100!

Oprah has just announced her Supersoul 100, "A collection of 100 awakened leaders and influencers hand-picked by Oprah who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity." I am so honored to be one of the 100 along with so many amazing thought leaders, change makers, innovators and inspirations. The 100 is organized into 5 groups. I'm in the Entrepreneurs group. 

Here is the official site to learn more: http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-100 

So excited and blessed to be a part of a group of such uplifting and ground breaking individuals. 

-Maya

My Book You Got This! is out now!

 I'm so excited to announce that my book YOU GOT THIS! is now available! I'm so proud and happy about this and I put so much love and energy into making this book a reality.

ORDER IT HERE:

| BARNES & NOBLE | BAM | 

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Additional places to get it

 

Featured in Magic Johnson's 32 Under 32 Series!

So excited to be featured in Magic Johnson's 32 Under 32 article series!

You can read it by clicking here!

-Maya :)

My Mother's Day Story (A Love Letter to My Mom)

My mother always instilled in me at a very early age: love, acceptance, and appreciation for all of my inner and outer features. Specifically, one of my most vivid early memories are of my mother expressing to me how beautiful my natural hair is. Note that this was in the early 2000's, so the natural hair movement was just starting to grow into how big it is today. Representations of natural hair styles were few and far between. But I was so young at the time, and I didn't think much of it. I just knew my hair was beautiful just the way it was.

When I was 8 years old, my mom, dad, and I moved into a new house, and a new neighborhood. The difference between this neighborhood and my old one, was that this one had way more kids on each block. Being home schooled, this gave me more opportunity to make new friends and socialize with other kids my age, and while I did make friends (some of whom I still talk to today), I started having new perspectives thrown at me about my appearance. Especially my hair.

Still rocking my curly, coily, fro, kids would ask me with a condescending grin "What's wrong with your hair?". I would sometimes hear their questions and quips echo in my head and ask myself "What IS wrong with my hair?". That was the first time a sort of odd-one-out self-awareness bubbled up. Fortunately I knew how to immediately squash those feelings by remembering my mothers loving words. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be the first time I was faced with prejudice.

My mom comes from a family of musicians and artists. In the 80's, she and her sisters had started an all female rock group called Siren. Record companies would hear their work and adore it, but once they saw the sisters in person and saw that they were an all African American group, they turned them down. Told they wouldn't know how the public would react, and that they didn't match the music they played. Shunned from playing rock and roll, a genre actually born from an extensive combination of African-American genres. 

All of this is why it was so important to my mom for me to have a rock solid confidence in my own black girl magic as I entered a world where it isn't always recognized.

Thank you mom, for giving me a space where I can let my light shine, and providing me access to creative outlets and support through all of my endeavors. Thank you for everything you've taught me and the lessons I have yet to learn. The knowledge and advice you've given me is too valuable, more precious and sought after than any jewel known to man. The fact that you've decided to bestow this upon me leaves me in awe. And although I may not always seem appreciative, or take your advice at first, it always in some way shapes me to be my best self, and I know that. I always have. And I will carry these lessons with me for the rest of my years. The love you've shown me is bountiful. You have the ability to make me feel more dazzling than a sunrise, and my heart feel full, and I thank you for that.

Thank you for always being there for me, when I wasn't always there for myself.

Thank you to all of the nurturing spirits of the sisterhood of amazing women (and girls) who I have met over the years in my travels, and even online. Women who have prayed over me, prayed for me and with me, the warm hugs and the support, the beautiful messages of encouragement, the high fives, The "You go girl", and the "keep doing what you're doing". It has meant so much, and I appreciate it with all of my heart.

For those of you who are reading this and your mother is no longer with you, rejoice in the gift that they have left you. And for those of you who have struggled to have a supportive mother figure, if you look closely you'll notice you still have a mother figure in your life whether you've realized it or not. Whether it be an aunt, a grandmother, a sister, a friend, a teacher, or a co-worker. A motherly figure who can not only fill that void, but who's nurturing and supportive, who lifts you up and wants the best for you in life.

Happy Mother's Day.

Blessing and Love,

Maya Penn

My important campaign with the Clinton Foundation!

I WAS ON THE VIEW!! + CLIP

I was on The View this month on ABC!  Here's my segment! 

Me and Whoopi! She was so cool! I love her! :)

Maya speaks at IBM!

I was excited to be asked to be a speaker and a part of the launch of IBM Verse in New York. I spoke about the future of work and how young entrepreneurs will change the world at work. More info on my talk can be found in this Business Insider article.

Q & A WITH MAYA!

  Have a question you want to ask me? I'm making a Q&A video and I need YOUR questions! Whether it's about business, animation or random stuff, I'll answer! No matter how goofy or serious. 

HOW DO I SEND IN MY QUESTION?

Comment on my facebook post
OR
Ask a question on twitter with the hashtag #AskMayaPenn
OR  
Comment on my instagram post

 HAVE FUN! :)
-Maya

Partnering with MedShare!

Me and MedShare CEO and President Charles Redding

I am happy to announce that my nonprofit Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet has partnered up with a wonderful organization called MedShare! I started a project where I have designed and created eco-friendly sanitary pads for girls in 3rd world countries. MedShare will help with the distribution of the pads. MedShare is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare and the environment through the efficient recovery and redistribution of the surplus of medical supplies and equipment to those most in need. MedShare has impacted 96 countries around the world. Learn more about my pads for girls project at http://mayasideas4theplanet.org/ and support MedShare at http://medshare.org/

Speaking at the Girls Inc. Strong, Smart, Bold Awards luncheon!

Recently I spoke at the Girls Inc. Strong, Smart, Bold Awards luncheon in Atlanta. I was so excited and honored to speak for this awesome organization. Watch the video below!

Salute to Greatness Dinner 2014

I attended the King Center's Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner for my second year! :)

This annual event honors the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family. This year, in addition to the Observance of the 85th birthday celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and the 28th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Holiday, it was the 51st  anniversary of Dr. King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech. The 2014 Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner honored Muhammad Ali, Xerox Inc., Pakistani anti-violence advocate Khalida Brohi and One Billion Rising and award-winning playwright Eve Ensler.

Me and my beautiful friend and she-ro Eve Ensler, award-winning playwright and founder of One Billion Rising.

My new friend and Pakistani anti-violence advocate Khalida Brohi, Me, and my mom. :)

Me and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. It was great to see him again!

It was great seeing my friend Megan Smith again! We both spoke at TEDWomen 2013. I also got to meet Father Frank, and Megan's two sons. :)

The amazing night was ended with me and many other amazing honorees and activists on stage singing "We shall overcome"

My Article on Young Entrepreneur!

The lovely Kara Ohngren did a story on me on Young Entrepreneur. Check it out here!!

2012 Captain Planet Gala!

Recently I went to the Captain Planet Gala! I love donating and supporting the Captain Planet Foundation. :D I had a really great time meeting a lot of people and catching up with friends. The panel speakers there were Sir Richard Branson, Ted Turner, and President Jimmy Carter! I also got to meet a woman that I had been looking forward to seeing that night that I really admire, Sara Blakley Founder of Spanx! She was just as awesome in person and I was honored to meet her. :)

Sara Blakley rockin' a Maya's Ideas original design hat! :D

Sara, Me and my Mom!

Me and actress Victoria Rowell

Me being interviewed by Conn Jackson

My mom me and my friend Laura Turner Seydel

Speakers Left to Right: President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, Sir Richard Branson.

My speech at TEDx Youth

Here is my TEDx Speech! I will post pictures and more info tomorrow. :)

Tweens need spiritual leaders!

Last Sunday I watched an episode of Oprah's "Super Soul Sunday". An amazing episode it was, with Gabrielle Bernstein, Mastin Kipp and Marie Forleo. I'm a huge fan of Gabby's. I was watching in between practicing my speech for TEDx Youth@ The Beltline which I would be speaking at the next day. In this episode Oprah Winfrey interviews three "up-and-coming" thought leaders from the next generation of spiritual thinkers. All in their 30's. and then it struck me: What about MY generation? The 10 to 19 year olds?
 
When you turn 10 you're official a "tween" which literally is short for between. You're in the middle of being a child and a teenager and you start slipping out of what your parents and teachers taught you and you start forming your own opinions about the world, how the world sees you, and how you see yourself, and how you want to be seen.  You were born unique, different from anyone on the planet, but this is when you start to make yourself an individual. A lot of kids between 10 and 13 start to slip through the cracks and they need to be reached. 

When I'm asked to speak to schools and girls organizations, I hear their stories. Stories  about how they've been bullied, abused at home, how they've been cutting themselves for the past months, and some not even alive to tell their stories, as they've committed suicide. 10 year olds should not be committing suicide. No one should.  I just heard a story on the news today about a 13 year old girl who stabbed her 2 year old half sister to DEATH, left her in the backyard and lied about it to her family. What is THAT about? What kids and teens really need are other KIDS or TEENS to talk to and relate with. 

We need our own thought leaders and gurus. I go in and uplift them, and give them a positive view in life, and I quote from the great Dr. Maya Angelou, "You should be a rainbow in somebodies cloud.". It would be great if Oprah did a Super Soul Sunday with just kids and teens talking and sharing their experiences, asking their own questions and giving their own answers, and uplifting and enlightening each other. If that ever happened I would LOVE to be a part of it. You can watch the episode HERE

Signing off for the night.

Blessings,

-Maya :)