Maya's Favorites, Personal Development . By Maya Smart | July 11 , 2014

This is How You Learn to Love Your Hair

Dear Zora, This is how you learn to love your hair in a world that requires such lessons. First, you remember who gave you that

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | August 22 , 2014

The Freshmen ABCs

I was invited to give a Welcome Week speech at VCU and the occasion provided a great opportunity for me to reflect on my college

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How Angela Patton (CEO of Girls for a Change) Makes Things Happen

Angela Patton captured the hearts and imaginations of hundreds of thousands of online viewers with a TED talk describing an

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | September 23 , 2014

My Natural Hair Journey

When I was born on September 14, 1980 in Ravenna, Ohio my Afro was, in large part, unremarkable. It was expected. It was natural.

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | October 03 , 2014

How to Clear Your Mind to Get Things Done

Contaminated time is your enemy. Think of those tainted moments you spend worrying about one thing when you should be focused on

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Style Weekly 40 under 40 2014

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | October 23 , 2014

Ask Maya: Self Care vs. Self Absorption

Dear Maya, How do you stop putting everyone else’s needs and happiness before your own, yet still be considered a caring

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Social Emotional, Personal Development, Community . By Maya Smart | October 31 , 2014

Make Every Day a Play Day

“We’re in a society where we have to justify play. But play reminds you of your better self and how happy you can be.  In

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Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Library & Literacy Advocacy, Author & Leader Interviews . By Maya Smart | November 07 , 2014

How Katie Meyler Fights for Girls in Liberia

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | November 21 , 2014

Can Reading Local Cure My Amazon Addiction?

Here’s my confession. I buy 90% of my books from Amazon (gulp!), even as I diligently link to Indiebound.org on my blog to

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