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Donna Speaks Blog!
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Donna M. Kshir is an author, publisher and columnist featured in over 50 publications. Donna is a writer who seeks truth and justice for children exposed to abuse. She speaks out and writes against these injustices done onto children. Donna's work has landed her on the bestsellers list 16x.
Donna is an activist. She used her influence in the growth of gaining national support for nonprofit Dreamcatchers for Abused Children (2008-2015) and Conner's Law, making child abuse by death a violent crime in Kentucky; receiving a Letter of Recommendation from Conner's mother Mashanna Bachuss (2019). In 2009, Donna created, produced and hosted Dreamcatchers Talk Radio until 2015 to become the face and producer of Your Voice Radio's, Two Nana's at Noon. In June 2016 she and her best friend and sister advocate Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts co-founded Advocates United for Humanity. Donna is a member of the Nonfiction Authors Association, she received the NNPAAW Award (2012-2018), she's a 2019 nominee of the Pinnacle Awards and the 2019 Diamond Quill Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Donna is an activist. She used her influence in the growth of gaining national support for nonprofit Dreamcatchers for Abused Children (2008-2015) and Conner's Law, making child abuse by death a violent crime in Kentucky; receiving a Letter of Recommendation from Conner's mother Mashanna Bachuss (2019). In 2009, Donna created, produced and hosted Dreamcatchers Talk Radio until 2015 to become the face and producer of Your Voice Radio's, Two Nana's at Noon. In June 2016 she and her best friend and sister advocate Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts co-founded Advocates United for Humanity. Donna is a member of the Nonfiction Authors Association, she received the NNPAAW Award (2012-2018), she's a 2019 nominee of the Pinnacle Awards and the 2019 Diamond Quill Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
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On November 18, 2020 Donna and Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts served as Co-Editors to honor her dear friend Stephen Miller, who passed away unexpectedly on 02-11-2020, and his first release Waterfalls and Cascades of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The photo book reached the Amazon’s Top 100 in Photography and Travel in January/February 2021. Donna and Lee Roberts' program ‘Real Talk’ on AU4H RADIO began being broadcast on iHeart Radio podcasts in March 2021. The show was created and aired in December 2020. |
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On July 22, 2021 Donna and Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts introduced a petition to make the Child Abuse Central Registry public. Their goal is to have a State Representative sponsor the amendment and present it to the House and Senate. Donna and Lee first introduced this amendment in 2015 following the passing of Conner's Law. In January 2022, writer and advocate S. Justice featured Donna in the book titled, 'Conner's Law - Kentucky (KY SB102)' for her work with Mashanna Bachauss-Waggoner, Conner's mother, prior to it being passed into law in 2015. |
Gladys Caroline and Donna Kshir (1994)
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On November 8, 2022 Donna and Lee's independently published release, You Are Enough, hit #38 on Amazon's bestseller's list for Best Photo Essay Books, making it Donna's 16th time on the bestsellers list.
Donna writes under several pen names and advocates for those in need. Her most recent penname, Gladys Caroline, is to pay tribute to her late maternal grandmother. A woman who she wholeheartedly loves that truly impacted her life.
She has spent much of her life dedicated to giving back to her community. Donna has volunteered her time and talents with various non-profit organizations over her lifetime, animal rights, volunteered at her children's schools, in youth groups and gives of herself as she is able with God guiding her journey, as her health allows. She enjoys a quiet laid back lifestyle with her family!!
Donna writes under several pen names and advocates for those in need. Her most recent penname, Gladys Caroline, is to pay tribute to her late maternal grandmother. A woman who she wholeheartedly loves that truly impacted her life.
She has spent much of her life dedicated to giving back to her community. Donna has volunteered her time and talents with various non-profit organizations over her lifetime, animal rights, volunteered at her children's schools, in youth groups and gives of herself as she is able with God guiding her journey, as her health allows. She enjoys a quiet laid back lifestyle with her family!!
You Are Enough:
Click image to purchase!
You Are Enough is a photobook of 9 women who have faced adversity in their lifetime and have overcome it. They defeated issues with self-esteem, anxiety, depression, mental health, infertility, illness, crisis, disabilities, and body image to become independent, stronger, and more confident women.
Society and social networking platforms show us beautiful photographs of what we should look like and what we could look like if we use the right products, followed the right diet, exercise daily, and use the right products. They tell us that we, too, could be supermodels and be worthy of love, acceptance, and value but even by following a vigorous routine we somehow still fall short. Due to issues such as low self-esteem, lack of confidence in ourselves, and poor body image, we are made to feel unworthy and unloved when in fact the image they are selling us is unrealistic without proper lighting, filters, photoshopping, and excess plastic surgery.
In this book, each woman shares their story, along with raw, unedited photographs taken by the photographer and the owner of CJ Photography, Cynthia Harkinson. They have chosen to tell their story and use unedited photographs to show they are beautiful and they are enough, just as they are in true form without society's interpretation of what they should be through photoshopping and filters. Each of these women knows they are enough just as they are and you, too, are enough, just as you are.
The Foreword is written by radio personality, public speaker, child rights activist, and author Laurie Ann Smith. The book was published independently by Donna and Lee. On November 7, 2022 You Are Enough hit #38 on Amazon's bestsellers list for Best Photo Essays Books.
Society and social networking platforms show us beautiful photographs of what we should look like and what we could look like if we use the right products, followed the right diet, exercise daily, and use the right products. They tell us that we, too, could be supermodels and be worthy of love, acceptance, and value but even by following a vigorous routine we somehow still fall short. Due to issues such as low self-esteem, lack of confidence in ourselves, and poor body image, we are made to feel unworthy and unloved when in fact the image they are selling us is unrealistic without proper lighting, filters, photoshopping, and excess plastic surgery.
In this book, each woman shares their story, along with raw, unedited photographs taken by the photographer and the owner of CJ Photography, Cynthia Harkinson. They have chosen to tell their story and use unedited photographs to show they are beautiful and they are enough, just as they are in true form without society's interpretation of what they should be through photoshopping and filters. Each of these women knows they are enough just as they are and you, too, are enough, just as you are.
The Foreword is written by radio personality, public speaker, child rights activist, and author Laurie Ann Smith. The book was published independently by Donna and Lee. On November 7, 2022 You Are Enough hit #38 on Amazon's bestsellers list for Best Photo Essays Books.
Click image to purchase this edition.
You Are Enough Launch Party at the Renovo Public Library - September 27, 2022.
Top Photograph: Layla Anthony, Photographer Cynthia Probst, Donna Kshir, Cynthia Prost and Brittany Nelen. Missing from the photography Lee Roberts, Denise Maris, Michele Whitney, Katrina Catlin and Laurie Ann Smith.
Cybthia Harkinson
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Donna's Cover
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Donna & Cynthia
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Cynthia & Hubby
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Donna & Maureen
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Donna & Brittany
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Lee Roberts
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Kind People, Kind Hearts:
Northern Books, Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts and Donna Kshir are proud to announce the release of 'Kind People, Kind Hearts' by 9-year-old Abigail Murphy.
At age 1 year old, Abigail Murphy was diagnosed with Alopecia Totalis; an autoimmune disorder where white blood cells attack the hair follicles. Never knowing different Abigail embraced it to the fullest. After moving, and changing schools Abigail went toe to toe with bullying. Baldy and cue ball were names she was called regularly. Luckily for Abigail, her empathetic personality and intellectual mind combined with a 3rd-grade guardian angel teacher, Mrs. Ward, there was hope. Read the full article for an incredible update!
Advocacy Work:
Click image to read the FULL STORY: Two women fight for law to make child abuse central registry open.
Donna M. Kshir and Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts, both grandmothers, want people to be able to search offenders by name and location, according to Lexi Howard, an assistant and spokeswoman for Kshir and Roberts.
The grandmothers are seeking legislation to become law that would require the State Police to open the current private computerized database of individuals convicted of child abuse offenses in the state, including their name, date of birth, the tier of the crime and the location the crime took place which is often needed to find court records. Read More!
The grandmothers are seeking legislation to become law that would require the State Police to open the current private computerized database of individuals convicted of child abuse offenses in the state, including their name, date of birth, the tier of the crime and the location the crime took place which is often needed to find court records. Read More!
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Public stigma involves the negative or discriminatory attitudes that others have about mental illness. Self-stigma refers to the negative attitudes, including internalized shame, that people with mental illness have about their own condition.
Did you know that 1 in 5 people will be affected by a mental illness at some point in their lifetime and there are more than 40 Million people in the United States live with a mental health condition (anxiety and depression)? (NAMI)
Anxiety
Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and feeling tired may occur.
COMMON CAUSES
Anxiety can be normal in stressful situations such as public speaking or taking a test. Anxiety is only an indicator of underlying disease when feelings become excessive, all-consuming, and interfere with daily living.
Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety
Who gets Depression?
According to the CDC, about 1 out of every 6 adults will have depression at some time in their life. Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year. Anyone can get depressed, and depression can happen at any age and in any type of person. Many people who experience depression also have other mental health conditions.
Anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with depression. People who have anxiety disorders struggle with intense and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and/or panic. These feelings can interfere with daily activities and may last for a long time.
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Depression and Suicide: Getting Help in a Crisis
- Some people who are depressed may think about hurting themselves or committing suicide (taking their own life). If you or someone you know is having thoughts about hurting themselves or committing suicide‚ please seek immediate help. The following resources can help:
- Call 1−800−273−TALK is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Call your mental health provider.
- Get help from your primary doctor or other health care provider.
- Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
- Contact a minister, spiritual leader, or someone else in your faith community.
- Or contact NAMI
- More Mental Health resources
Enough is Enough: Stop Bullying!!
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For more information on AU4H's Bullying Awareness Campaign or to become an Upstander, visit AU4H's official website! Listen to Donna speak about bullying on a recent episode of Real Talk in iHeartRadio -->>>> |
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Radio & Podcasts:
Join the Conservation - AU4H Radio - Real Talk
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The B-Hive with Glenie B:
The B Hive Podcast. (PA ROCK TALK) Feat. Local Radio Celebrity Glenie b - Focusing on The Pennsylvania Rock Scene, National Rock and Entertainment News, Featured Band Of The Week, New Music Spotlight, WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE Segment, and So Much More!
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the owners' Donna Kshir and/or Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts. The material and information presented here is for general entertainment purposes only. "The B Hive" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owners. Listen now on Anchor FM and Spotify!!
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the owners' Donna Kshir and/or Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts. The material and information presented here is for general entertainment purposes only. "The B Hive" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owners. Listen now on Anchor FM and Spotify!!
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© Donna Kshir
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**This page is maintained by AU4H Volunteers**
Questions or concerns contact Lee 'Cougardawn' Roberts at Northern Books |
