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Trains, Planes, Roads, Buses and Boats: Women Can Run It All with WTS Transportation YOU!

7/22/2015

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Hey ladies! Did you know that there’s world of transportation and civil engineering careers waiting just for YOU!  Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS)  is a non-profit, network organization that serves to advance women in the transportation industry.  The best part is, WTS has a STEM program called Transportation YOU  that introduces young girls to new and exciting opportunities.  

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“Transportation YOU is about encouraging girls to get interested in transportation related fields and careers in the civil engineering industry,” said Pegasus Link Constructor’s Public Information and Diversity Manager and WTS member, Adrienne Williams.  Adrienne asked me to create a video promo that would capture the importance and fun of the Transportation YOU so that others can be aware of the program to get involved.  My assignment was to shoot the Transportation YOU participants as they visited the highway construction offices of Ferrovial Agroman US Corp and toured the LBJ Express construction project.  “Part of our tour today was to bring the girls and give them exposure of a project in heavy high-way industry,” said Adrienne.

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The girls listened to other women engineers and they spoke about their educational background and career choices in the transportation field. "They don’t have to feel intimidated because it has usually been a man’s ‘world,’ said Ferrovial Technical Office Manager, Clara Balboa. "If more women decided to be in this field then there would be more women...I think it was a good idea to bring them here (to Ferrovial) and other places.  They need to be exposed to a variety of professional scenarios in order to be able to decide which is the best for them.”

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LBJ Express gave the Transportation YOU participants an opportunity to see the design and plans from inception to fruition.  ”The girls were really impressed with the traffic management center that house over 300 TV monitors from camara activity placed strategically throughout the DFW metroplex.  One of the students stated that "it was fascinating and scary at the same time because someone is always watching." Another girl said, “not only do they monitor the progress of the projects but they manage the safety of everyone using the highway.” Sammie admits that she didn’t really pay attention to the roads where the LBJ Express construction project is taking place prior to this visit but now she has a new perspective. “You get to see all the work going into it: the processes and efforts…and it’s spectacular.”

Amy Phan attends Irma P. Rengal school and participates in the Transportation YOU program.  Amy described the professional women that she met today were “trailblazers" in her mind.  "WTS has opened this doorway for me through Transportation YOU to be more grateful for all the things going on around me like the roads and all the effort it takes to build them.  They’ve shown me that you don’t have to be scared when it comes to doing something that you’re passionate about…even if it’s an 'all male' job.  Amy was recently awarded an all expense paid trip to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. where she will participate in WTS mentorship activities during the summer. 
I learned that despite some improvements, there is a lack of leadership within the high level positions within transportation.  “Our goal is to not only bring more women into the WTS organization but to advance those women,” said DFW Chapter President, Nikki Simon who is focused on providing opportunities for Transportation YOU participants.   “I hope to introduce these girls to the industry and expose them to the mini facets of the industry in hopes of getting them to consider it as a career choice.”  When Nikki is not mentoring the girls she is busy running her business as the President of Simon Engineering and Consulting. 
For more information about Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) and to get involved with the Transportation YOU program, watch the video below and visit http://www.wtsinternational.org/greaterdallas/

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Kids Play in Paris: A Travel Documentary

7/14/2015

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It's no secret...I love to travel! There's nothing like the feeling of going to places where you need your passport stamped and a good amount of time made to just enjoy someplace far from home.  This wanderlust began when I was an exchange student (light) years ago after graduating high school.  My first time abroad was when I was a Rotary exchange student 
from Dallas/Duncanville, Texas sent to live with foreign host families thousands of miles away across the Atlantic Ocean in Tarbes; Bagneres de Bigorre; and Toulouse, France.  (Shout out to the Saut family!)  It was one of the best experiences ever! I lived with two other French families and traveled throughout Europe to Germany; Austria; Slovenia; Croatia; Czech Republic; Italy; Spain... needless to say, I got around and now as a wife and mom myself, those adventures still influence and inspire me today.  So how does a former exchange student, globe-trotting, polyglot parent?? We don't tell our kids about the world.  
WE SHOW THEM!! 
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Hence, I created this full-length travel home video (below) that documents our daughters first-time in Paris, France.  It's long- don't judge me- but ever see  your child's eyes glow from the spectacular July 14th Bastille Day firework show or twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower at night or watch the expression on their face at a Disney Parade in Disney Land.  Or watch them eat their first French croissant or "Fondue." It's a sight to behold.  This video also features some dear friends whom I was able to reconnect with from my exchange student days.  (Thanks for the memories and creating more.)  We visited the Castle of Versaille, the Louvre Museum, the Jardin de Tuileries or "Tulip Garden," Disney Land Paris, the Eiffel Tower and more.  Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to visit my French host families due to the long distance from Paris but doing so is on the "TO DO" list for a future visit.  

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Interested in traveling with your kids?  Here are some TIPS:

Save your money! I wish I was rich a could make plane tickets appear from thin air but I can't yet. So I did the next best thing.  I opened a "travel" savings account for them and have been saving $$ since they were born.  Once they got old enough at ages 7 and 5, we were on a plane to Paris. 

Visit a friend.  Let's say you've traveled a bit and some foreign friends will let you crash at their place.  Problem is, that may not work too well with multiple kiddos.  If space is an issue do what I did and rent a fully furnished apartment.  AirBnB is a God-send. (Shout out to Murad!)

Any health issues that can happen, probably will happen so be prepared.  Take your kids medicine and have a medical plan in place for when and if they get sick during travel.  Lena was treated for a serious stomach virus in France but luckily she could be seen by a doctor who was referred by a friend. 

Stay in a kid friendly environment.  My kids and I stayed in Crimee located in the North-Eastern region of Paris where there's the Children's Science and Technology Museum, a geo-dome movie theatre, huge parks and everything else you need close by to accommodate the little ones.  There's something for everyone with everything being easily accessed via Paris's extensive subway system.

Capture the moments.  If this wasn't a personal project, this video would NOT be the length of a full-length movie but it is because they are ours and there's nothing like capturing your kids at a young age and reviewing those pictures or recordings and reminiscing on those precious moments throughout their lifetime.  My heart melts every time I watch this video and I hope it does the same for you.  Let alone, inspire you to travel with your family and friends!  So what are you waiting for?! Press play and Bon Voyage!

Feel free to post your travel or your desire to travel comments below.  I'll read them and so will the rest of the world. Thanks for LIKE-ing and sharing.  Au Revoir!
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Courage, Awareness and "MOJO": How Lisa P. Frankin Lived In Spite of Ovarian Cancer

7/5/2015

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Have you ever had someone come into your life and etched a permanent place in your heart?  That's what Lisa P. Franklin did for me and my family just as she had done for so many others. "Nusa" as we affectionately called her, touched and changed lives and continue to do so through her legacy of Courage, Awareness and MOJO.  In the video below, she tells her story of how she lived with Ovarian Cancer.  
And boy did she live!  She lived to uplift, inspire, educate, motivate...I could go on. She championed cancer awareness as a SHARE.org Ambassador in hopes of empowering other women who share this journey.   From Dallas, Texas to her hometown Jamaica, New York, here is her courageous story in hopes that we may learn about Ovarian Cancer symptoms, family/community support and health care advice.  
TEAL stands for Tell Every Amazing Lady!

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    Author

    Hi. I'm LaDonna.
    For more info look at my bio! It's all there :) Thank you for visiting LaDoMojo. 

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