IMANI COLLECTIVE

Recently my partner and friend Melissa Meyers were invited to an event with Rachel McCord from The McCord List to support entrepreneurs, brands and charities to connect and empower women, especially those who have or are overcoming life's biggest obstacles (like homelessness, abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety or bullying) I was so touched by the Imani Collective I felt it was important to share with you. I hope you can take a minute to read about Jenny Nuccio, and her motivation to get moving and make a difference.

My companion was handmade by Grace Keya & she sits with Buster and I

My companion was handmade by Grace Keya & she sits with Buster and I

Imani Collective is a "community of dreamers + shakers who aren’t afraid to ask “why not?” Passionately pursuing a holistic approach to empowerment, they believe that once we realize what we’re made of, we can own what we’re made for. Convinced that we aren’t just better together — we’re our best together." 

The Imani Collective was started by Jenny Nuccio, who was new to the Mtepeni Village in Kenya. was new to Mtepeni Village, Kenya. She came straight from college with a vision to create meaningful employment and opportunities for the women there, but had a hard time getting her own water and would wheelbarrow thirty pounds of water every day. The other women in the village eventually helped her and they all became good friends. Jenny taught them how to sew and sixteen women started Imani Collective and yes, it takes a village.

Now, the Imani Collective has over fifty men and women in the Mtepeni Village as well as half a dozen women stateside. 

Melissa Meyers / Rachel McCord

Melissa Meyers / Rachel McCord

Rachel McCord is steadfast in creating her village and I'm so grateful to learn about Imani Collective and other wonderful brands who came together on this day to contribute. 

SHOP IMANI HERE:

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Thank you, Rachel, for a wonderful event and touching our hearts with your generosity and inviting us to join your village!

xo Janet


Mogul (http://mogullife.com/shop-2-2/):
Mogul Design is a retail store where modern meets decadent fashion. Located on Melrose Avenue, offering a wide selection of products and services for residential + commercial design, custom orders, home staging + photography, studio rentals, and vintage home accessories. It has a Sleek and Sexy take on classic designs. The philosophy is: “A HOME SHOULD BE WELL DRESSED, MOGUL TRULY IS HIGH FASHION FOR YOUR HOME.” THANK YOU to owners of Mogul, Thomas Piscitello and Neal Wagner. Follow us on Instagram @mogul_design.


High Heel Hero (https://miraclerelief.club/collections/high-heel-hero):
High Heel Hero stops the inflammation to stop the pinch. This pure CBD ointment is lightly scented with lavender and eucalyptus. They also sell adorable pouches for makeup and jewelry, as well as other sassy accessories! Follow us on Instagram at @high_heel_hero.


Copper + Crane (www.copperandcrane.com):
Copper + Crane is The world’s luxury spa, bath and skin care indulgence. Carefully crafted with the modern woman in mind. They have an exclusive collection of luxury bath, body and fragrance items. The vision is to create a voyage and community that brings a mesmerizing realm home to your bath sanctuary. Copper + Crane is about soothing and rejuvenating your Mind, Body, and Spirit. Follow us on Instagram at @copperandcrane.

 

Imani Collective (www.imanicollective.com):
Imani Collective ethically creates sustainable pieces for children and their moms. All of their products are handmade with no toxins. The Imani Collective is empowered to help, providing jobs for unemployed individuals living in Kenya. The company now employs over fifty Kenyan men + women in the Mtepeni Village and Mombosa, along with half a dozen women stateside. Imani Collective was developed to help and provide for its community of dreamers + shakers who aren’t afraid to ask “why not?” Follow us on Instagram at @imanicollective.



Mott and Prince (www.mottandprince.com):
Mott and Prince is a place for women to feel inspired and empowered through their style, experiences, and culture. They want to give women an amazing shopping experience, but most importantly a place for them to learn and connect with others with honest experiences and life happenings that we can all relate to. The passion behind Mott and Prince is to give women strength to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. Mott and Prince is offering all The McCord List influencers 20% off their purchases! Use code: RachelMcCord20  to redeem your discount on www.mottandprince.com. Follow us on Instagram at @MottandPrince.

INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE INFLUENCERS

What do you look for in an influencer? Meet six women who are loving, dynamic and fearless and want to connect with you.

Clothing: Courtesy of: Milk Boutique Photo: Betsy Newman Makeup: Melissa Mitchell

Clothing: Courtesy of: Milk Boutique Photo: Betsy Newman Makeup: Melissa Mitchell

Today we seem to find most of our information in the palm of our hand. No matter what you're searching for, whether you're on Facebook or Instagram you'll most likely find whatever you need. Social media marketing is gaining more popularity and it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. In fact, P.R. companies are now depending on influencers to get the authentic word out and in some cases, they outperform traditional marketing channels. The fun part is finding the influencers that you connect with, whether is fashion, nutrition, inspiration, travel, or our beloved pets. I'd like you to meet six of my favorite ageless influencers who've I've had the joy of working with over the last two years. These women have brought so much knowledge and fun to my journey and we're all very excited about future projects in 2018. 

 Meet Shalini Vadhera

Shalini has traveled the world in search of women's unique beauty secrets and strives to empower women of all ages. She is a global beauty expert with incredible knowledge in beauty and spirit. Her website is loaded with exciting content along with her YouTube channel documenting her journies and how-tos. Shalini was the first influencer I met after launching The Grateful Gardenia. We were seated across from one another at a dinner party, my husband sat beside her and right away he said, "Janet, you gotta meet Shalini" Shalini and her husband were off to Europe on the red-eye that evening, and we chatted about technology and building a brand until she and her husband left. Shalini's conversation was such an ah-ha moment for me, she unleashed a mountain of ideas, in fact, it's because of Shalini I do my walking meditation every single day, and why I regularly talk to the moon. Shalini lives here in Los Angeles with her husband and stepdaughter .

Meet Melissa Meyers

Melissa is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to beauty products, treatments and great places for working out. Not only can you read about what she's currently testing but you can watch her in action, check her Insta stories on her Instagram page and you'll experience first hand what's taking place. She offers incredible discount codes for style and wellness with detailed information on the latest spas & products. Melissa is a dedicated journalist, she's a New Yorker who began her career in the city, and moved with her husband and two kids to L.A. six years ago. When it comes to product details you can be sure you will get the facts when you read her blog and newsletter.  Melissa's all about glowing from the inside, I highly encourage you to sign up for her weekly newsletter for updates, discount codes and sales!  Melissa and I met after being seated at a luncheon for Project Angel Food. Our mutual friend purposely seated us next to one another (thank you Robert) I asked if we could meet and if she had time to educate me on how the blogging world all works. We met, and thanks to Melissa sharing her valuable information I learned how to monetize my content, and I'm still learning. Melissa and I have been working together for the last year and it's been one exciting journey. Speaking of journeys, we're excited about our first travel collaboration at the end of January. Melissa and I are also the Brand Ambassadors for Instytutum a skincare line from Switzerland, and she just launched her own organic face oil.  Olie X Melissa Meyers Rose Glow drops, in partnership with Project Angel Food. 

Meet Elissa Goodman

Sign up now!!  I always get so excited when I speak to anyone about Elissa. She is my go-to for nutrition and inspiration. I have learned so much from reading her newsletter and reading her book Cancer Hacks. Elissa will motivate you to take charge of your health. She is a cancer survivor and you can read about her journey and her husband who lost his battle with cancer. Elissa's story is one of courage and healing and you will learn why it's so important to listen to your gut and educate yourself on food and listen to your body. She also has a segment on Focus TV and interviews women who focus on health and who are at the top of their game. After reading her book, you will get motivated to change at least one thing in your daily life. Elissa walks the talk, and she's a woman who understands how important it is for us women to take care of ourselves!!  Following her Instagram will give you great ideas for delicious and healthy meals! Changing one thing can change your life for the better. Elissa is a mother of two daughters.

Meet Luz Avilla Kyncl

I met Luz several years back, we spent a beautiful New Year's Eve together with our families in Sun Valley with mutual friends. I didn't know much about Luz, I watched her in the kitchen prepare a fabulous meal. Little did I know the love and knowledge involved in the preparation. Luz is an author, a nutrition coach, and a wellness counselor with experience in family nutrition, weight management, and stress relief. Luz offers educational workshops to improve health in schools and organizations. In her private practice, she helps individuals and families with weight problems and self-esteem. But what Luz really is...Fearless, loving, giving and a believer. I highly recommend reading her book, it is a story of courage and change beyond belief. In November I interviewed Luz on my Focus TV Segment Fearless Females and I'm in awe of her courage. When I read stories of women like Luz, she makes me want to be connected more to the possibilities of what happens when we support others and believe in ourselves, she gives me hope on a different level.  Her book has recently been translated from Spanish into English and is available on Amazon.  Her Instagram saludconluz has beautiful reminders for daily inspiration and reminding us all our past is not our prison. Luz's book is a terrific gift!

Meet Michelle Day Gilette

Michelle's Instagram

Michelle's Instagram

Michelle is a ray of sunshine!  She's a motivating life coach who focuses on women. Her practice Thrive & Fly will help gain you clarity, no matter what phase of life you're in. Michelle is all about identifying what's not right so you can weed that out of your life and begin to live the one you're meant to live. Michelle was my first interview for my Fearless Female Segment on Focus TV. Andy Waldman, of Focus Magazine / TV - a wonderful male influencer... who would chuckle when he reads this...suggested I meet Michelle and that she be my first guest. He said, "you'll love Michelle, just trust me"...Well, Andy was spot on, she's wonderful and full of ideas and she means business!  Michelle can be found on Focus TV with her Spotlight Series where she interviews women and men who share valuable information about life, beauty, and mental health issues. Her Instagram is heartfelt and full of reminders to LOVE. Yes...she's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She lives here in Los Angeles with her husband and two kids.

Meet Clara Lee

I met Clara several months ago, I fell in love with her eagerness and desire to open a new door in her life. Clara is a dentist by profession, has a passion for fashion and strongly believes you're never too late or too old to follow your passion. Originally from Korea Clara moved to Los Angeles from Chicago with her husband and three kids. Clara sold her two successful dental practices in Chicago and continues to practice a few days a week here in Los Angeles. Ready for a new adventure in her life Clara launched her Instagram Claraleestyle and found her renewed love for fashion and beauty after posting her OOTD (outfit of the day) pictures. She's loved the creative process and the fact she's connected with a group of women here in Los Angeles to begin collaborating with. If you're looking for great tips on style for work or pleasure, you'll enjoy following the fashion journey of Clara Lee.

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In the last few years of blogging and becoming a part-time paid influencer, I have expanded my happiness ten-fold. It's not only that I'm actually doing what I love, it's the connection I have with these women you see here and many more. You become this "team of doers" you ask "how can I help"  "what do you need" There's not a day I don't feel supported in work and friendship with these women, I have been blessed to work with all of them and they're giving it their all every single day!

My message to you, if there's something you want to do or you need a little inspiration then start following these women, you'll find goodness, happiness, and health in their content. We're all on our second and third...and fourth act. It's never too late, you're never too old to build your team of amazing women and friends. Just ask, "How can I help"  We all come to this earth with incredible gifts, yours could be seated right next to you... Just show up you never know...

Thank you to these amazing women, you've inspired me in the most graceful ways and made the journey so lovely.

xoxo Janet

Email any of us with questions you might have, we want to connect with you!