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It's official: we're ending this year with a bang 💥 You with us? Not only because it's our 🗣️100TH ISSUEEEEEEEEE, but celebration is our word for December!

Yes, it's time to take it easy, celebrate, and spend time with loved ones during the holidays.

But we all have been killing it, putting in some hard ass work (if we might add) for these last 11 months, and deserve time to celebrate ourselves. In these next 30 days, let's find some ways to celebrate yourselves. It doesn't have to cost a thing, or it could be something to knock off your bucket list, bingo card, or vision board. Whatever you want to celebrate this month and however you want to do it.

Do y'all remember? We kicked off this year intending to give ourselves grace and space. We planned to set boundaries to make these themes more attainable. After taking some moments to reflect, I am happy to share that we did what we intended to do, which is so assuring to not only reflect on, but to acknowledge and accept. Setting those boundaries took a lot of work! One of the ways I want to celebrate is by giving myself the space to read and finish one book. I've been trying all year long to dedicate the space. It's either I set the time on my calendar and don't honor it or pick up the book and start thinking about 20 other things that have nothing to do with what I'm reading. While I'm making this a commitment, I'm rooting it in celebration - rather than a task on my to-do list. It's my extra dessert at night, or a pick me up in the morning; this feels so much better than how I was thinking about picking up and reading a book before.

What were some of your New Year's resolutions, goals and/or themes for this year? What would you like to do throughout December to celebrate working towards those things? Share with us, and we'll hold each other accountable.

Alright, it's time to see what we notedd for you this week! As always, #StayNotedd.

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1. Congratulations to Megan Thee Stallion, becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes’s 30 Under 30 issue earlier this week. Amongst those who joined Megan are MEFEATER Magazine cofounder Gabrielle Williams, Rap Sh!t executive story editor and co-lead, and NJ/NY Gotham FC forward and Black Women’s Player Collective founder Midge Purce. Check out who else was featured this year here!
2. Also, earlier this week, the Senate voted 61-36 in favor of passing the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriage. While the bill would not set a national requirement that all states must legalize same-sex marriage, it would require individual states to recognize another state's legal marriage. The House will now need to approve the legislation before sending it to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.
3. Merriam-Webster dubbed "gaslighting" the 2022 Word of the Year, defining it as "the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one's own advantage." Gaslighting joins past words of the year like "vaccine" (selected in 2021), "pandemic" (2020), and "they" ( in 2019). Merriam Webster's editor at large shared in a statement that "…gaslighting has emerged as a word for our time. From politics to pop culture to relationships, it has become a favored word for the perception of deception." What do you think about this year's word choice? You can also check out the few commonly searched words this year, like "queen consort."
4. In a recent article, Forbes Senior Contributor Paulanna Reid sat down with Founder Tiffany James, who is making the world of trading and investment accessible to women of color. After turning an initial $10,000 investment into $2 million, James created Modern BLK Girl: a community that teaches Black women the importance of investing and wealth creation. Just this year alone, Modern BLK Girl has taught over 150K students and donated $350,000 to Teen University, an immersive course that helps young Black girls get started in the stock market.
5. "How do we allow for both softness and niceness in our working lives without being taken advantage of?" Refinery29 UK Editor L'Oréal Blackett asks this question in her recent article, "I Thought Being Nice Would Shield Me From Racism At Work — I Was Wrong." Whew, chile, we need a book club-type meeting with some wine to unpack and answer these questions, but its one that we felt is something we all have explored before. Blackett details her experiences, allowing you to feel the emotions while acknowledging yourself and feeling like you're not alone. We highly encourage you to read it, but also ponder these questions: "While nice is my default, do I still need to rely on it as a means to get ahead in my career and relationships? What is the lasting impact of choosing 'nice' over being a little more direct?"
6. Writer Hanna Phifer and xoNecole reached out to Black elementary and middle school teachers to learn more about their experiences as teachers and ask whether the sitcom Abbott Elementary reflects what goes on in the classroom. Read more about their thoughts here.

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Honorable Mentions

You've got your holiday gift guide to help with online shopping, and now you need some gift wrapping to match the gift. Look no further; we've got you covered this week. Check out these three honorable mentions below!

Black Paper Party Owners Madia Willis, J'Aaron Merchant, and Jasmine Hudson created a well-curated collection of gift wrapping and ornaments with nods to the African Diaspora for everyone to enjoy. They bring the party with their designs, creating experiences of sass and style for both the giver and receiver to enjoy. The "Snow Days Off Gift Bag Set" and "Aunt Holly Wreaths Gift Wrap" are our faves from their collection. Check it out for yourself below!

Wrap Your Gifts in Black Paper Party

With a desire to provide care, detail, and love when creating beautiful packages, Founder Ariel Young found the paper goods and stationery available to her lacked diversity. She felt she needed to contribute to a broader, more inclusive market where Black people could feel seen and heard. Copper and Brass Paper Goods was born, offering wrapping paper, gift bags, and tags. Their product line has expanded with greeting cards, notebooks, accessories, and other small paper goods. It's their "Black Nutcracker" collection for us! Each item in the collection brings nostalgia, and we love it! Grab your sets today!

Wrap Your Gifts in Copper and Brass Paper Goods

UNWRP is the luxury gift wrap company where art meets gifting. Founded by Brooklyn-based graphic designer Ashley Fouyolle, UNWRP features seasonal prints from worldwide artists and collaborators on a line of gift and fabric wraps and other fun wrapping accessories. The Portraits gift wrap is classic and a favorite for us. It's beautiful and perfect for any gift and holiday. Make sure you grab yours today and wrap those gifts right on time!

Wrap Your Gifts in UNWRP

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Important Resources

Abortion resources and ways to support local and national abortion funds, independent providers, and clinics.

​Indigenous Women Rising​

​I Need An A​

​Planned Parenthood of Metro DC​

​SYS (Support Your Sistah)​

​Find your local abortion funds here​

​Support independent providers and clinics here​

​Black Feminist Future​

​New Voices for Reproductive Justice​

​Harriet’s Wildest Dreams​

​Keep Our Clinics​

​Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania​

​SisterSong​

​Indigenous Women Rising​

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Mental health resources and communities to priortize your mental and emotional health.

​Therapy is My Jam​

​Zola Counseling Solutions

​Sad Girls Club​

​Therapy for Black Girls​

​Saddie Baddies​

​Black Healing Matters​

​Mindfulness in Challenging Times​

​The Loveland Foundation​

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​STAY INFORMED | STAY CONNECTED | STAY NOTEDD​

Interested in being a Tribe Talk speaker? Have any content ideas? Are you launching a product or service? Have any major accomplishments to share with theup?

Reach out to us and we'll add it to our next issue.

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