Raquel Battle

Hellerrrrrr! 05-12-12

/ Twocanview LLC

 

The First Lady of Belize, Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow

We have yet to hit or beat the number 317 which was our highest umber of views in a single day for the article on Kim Simplis 02-04-12 and it was a SATURDAY!!!! LOL We have come very close but just can’t beat it! We  want to thank everyone who keeps following and spreading the birdflew by sharing our articles on your walls and tagging your friends. We are well on our way to hitting 15,000 hits in the next week and that is all YOU!!!!!

THANK YOU 🙂

We continue to work on spreading awareness about cancer in our country and highlight ways we can all chip in to help. Some articles to check out and pass around: Please contribute to the cancer fund we are collaborating on with Kim Black and support Raquel in getting BEAT Cancer up and running. She has dedicated quite a lot of time and resources to help those in need.

https://twocanview.com/2012/02/04/in-the-face-of-adversity-beauty-poise-and-desire-to-educate-and-serve-by-fayemarie-anderson-carter/

https://twocanview.com/2012/05/09/buy-a-beanie-and-support-breast-cancer-awareness-kim-for-kim/

https://twocanview.com/2012/05/10/kimberly-christine-longsworth-black-featured-artist-05-10-12/

https://twocanview.com/2012/04/02/raquel-battle-battles-on-by-fayemarie-a-carter/

Kimberly Christine Longsworth Black: Featured Artist 05-10-12

/ Twocanview LLC / 2 Comments

Kimberly modeling an adult hat.

I have known Kimberly or Kimmy, KC (as I used to call her) since she was born. That’s ’cause she is the daughter of one of my favourite boy cousins Charles 🙂 Yes…I crushed haaaaard on him. Her parents, Charles Longsworth and Lisa Williams Longsworth Macias got married in Belize City, late one Friday evening and somewhere in some dusty old file cabinet is my signature as a witness on their marriage certificate. It is no wonder that Kimberly would become artistic when she grew up. Her “home” was Mom’s Triangle Inn on Handyside St., Belize City. Her pets were kitties and snakes (yes, snakes) with names like Whiskey and Brandy. Funny enough, both her grandmothers made their living by owning eateries. Elma’s has been in Belmopan since I could remember traveling on the bus. I couldn’t wait to jump off and grab a meat pie and ice cream from Auntie Elm’s. As a matter of fact, when I went to Belmopan this past March, I went and got my meatpies and the last conch fritter left. (Thanks Melito Zabaneh for letting me have it :))

I used to race home from SJC Sixth Form for lunch at Mom’s. Kimmy loved ice and fries so by the end of lunch, that high chair was a delish sloppy mess of dripping ketchup. Then I would put her in the sink and wash her off and get her ready for her noon nap…everyday like clock work. One of her favourite things to do was put her mouth right over the faucet and drink the water out of the tap 🙂 Well now Kimmy is a wife and mother of two adorable boys. She lives in California and has launched a charming business called KCB Custom Crochet.

Kimberly credits her grandma Elma Onofre for teaching her a basic chain when she was 7. I received a similar lesson from my grandmother Dorothy Longsworth too. But unlike me, Kimmy was very excited by this particular form of making clothes so she persisted and got her grandma to teach her much more than  basic techniques. At just 20, she has created her own business making the most adorable hats for babies and adults. I bought quite a few as Christmas gifts last year and everyone loved them. I asked her what inspires her everyday ans she said “My sons.” And I believe it! You should see the cute dragon hats she made for them!

One day I was brainstorming ways of spreading breast cancer awareness in support of our First Lady, Kim Simplis Barrow as well as my friend Raquel Battle, President and Founder of  The BlissfulSage Foundation http://www.blissfulsage.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1 when a little ding sounded. Why not ask Kimmy to make some pink hats that people could absolutely love wearing or giving as gifts AND still be promoting awareness at the same time????

SOoooooo, one month later, Twocanview and KCB Custom Crochet are launching an effort to raise funds and turn the spotlight on the fight against the devastation that breast cancer visits upon its victims and their families. https://twocanview.com/2012/05/09/buy-a-beanie-and-support-breast-cancer-awareness-kim-for-kim/  For every hat she sells, she will donate $5 in Kim Simplis Barrow’s name to the Belize Cancer Center Dangriga. We encourage everyone to please join us in this effort and if you just want to donate $$$ without making a purchase, please do! One one okra full up basket!!!!! Here’s an idea: those involved in fundraisers, buy a bunch of these to give away to your supporters!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.355307514529895.79321.162552987138683&type=3

Please check out her other hats for sale too! They are soooooo kiuuuute! And if you have something specific you want her to design for you, she loves to collaborate with her clients on those kinds of projects. Just a thought: give out some beanies as favours at your toddler’s next birthday party. Can you imagine a bunch of lil dragons running around? or kitty cats? awwwwwwww…..She also makes purses and hair accessories. https://www.facebook.com/pages/KCB-Custom-Crochet/162552987138683

Dragon hats Kim made for her sons.

Raquel Battle Battles On! by Fayemarie A Carter

/ Twocanview LLC / 9 Comments

Raquel Leslie Battle

As my high school friend and co-captain of our volley ball team in 4th Form at Ecumenical High School, there was already a lot to admire about Raquel Leslie, this red gial from Placencia. And then she showed off even more talent performing “The Jaguar” written by Henry W Anderson, MBBS, JP in the Miss Lion’s Contest later that same year. She and I would never see each other after graduation in 1991 as we went our separate ways. It is funny then, that we followed similar paths studying psychology and specializing in emotional and behavioural disorders. She is  pursuing a Ph.D in Health Care Administration at the moment, which is where her path diverges just a little from mine. I have no intentions of doing any such thing! However, Raquel and I still have a lot  in common especially our strong advocacy efforts.

Raquel Leslie Battle has formed the Blissfulsage Foundation because of a promise she made to her father, Edlin Leslie Sr. Her father was fortunate enough to receive excellent care in Virgina towards the end of his struggle with cancer. He expressed concern for his people in southern Belize not having this kind of care available and so he asked Raquel to find a way to help.  She has founded the Edlin Leslie Sr Hospice and Home Care with its headquarters based in Dangriga, Stann Creek. The aim of such an organization is to provide clients and their families with support through actual medical care; meeting some basic needs such as clothing, toiletries etc; education and counseling. Learn more at http://www.blissfulsage.org 

This weekend, Raquel met former President Bill Clinton at the 5th Annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in Washington DC. Over 1000 students attended, representing all 50 states and over 75 countries. I looked for you in the news clips Raqs but didn’t see you 🙂 The following further describes what Raquel was a part of over the weekend:

Source: Clinton Global Initiative Press Release

CGI U 2012

The CGI U brings together students, national youth organizations, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities engaged in efforts to create positive change.

About CGI U 
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) challenges college students to address global issues with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U members do more than simply discuss problems – they take concrete steps to solve them by building relationships, creating action plans, participating in hands-on workshops, and following up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Their efforts have culminated in approximately 3,000 Commitments to Action. Previous CGI U meetings have taken place at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Miami, and the University of California at San Diego, and have convened more than 3,500 students from 641 schools in 110 countries and all 50 states. The fifth annual CGI U meeting will be held at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. from March 30 – April 1, 2012. To learn more, visit cgiu.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

CGI’s Annual Meeting is held each September in New York City. CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

I hope to feature more about our fearless pioneer Raquel Battle in the coming weeks. She has formed the group  Belizean Educational Association for Treatment of Cancer, BEAT Cancer, (luv luv luv di name gial) as part of her commitment to CGI U. She is hoping to compile a comprehensive list of information regarding research, treatment and support for victims of cancer. She is asking that everyone joins her in gathering the information needed to create a systematic approach to fighting cancer. Check out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324395380943704/

I hope that as we hear about her efforts to help others in our tiny country, that we are inspired to join her in her battle against poverty, ignorance, and hopelessness. One of Raquel’s favourite quotes is “Be the change you wish to see in the world” – Mahatma Ghandi. She surely has been living what she preaches.