Meet a Board Member: LaWanda Stone
Yellow Arrow Publishing would like to introduce LaWanda Stone, Director of Diversity & Inclusion. Welcome to the Yellow Arrow family! LaWanda leads executive communications at Stanley Black & Decker and inner communications as a certified yoga instructor at Life Time Fitness. She also teaches through the company she founded, Namastone Yoga. Her passion is to help individuals show up as their authentic selves and be seen through storytelling. Her worldview has been shaped traveling North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Africa, and Australia. She has degrees in journalism from Howard University, organizational leadership from American Public University, and an RYT-200 yoga teaching certification from Life Time Fitness. You can find her on Instagram @Namastone_Yoga.
She will be co-leading the workshop “Poetry of the Body: Writing from an Embodied Perspective” with Nichola Ruddell on March 3. Make sure to sign up for the class today! According to LaWanda, “I’m excited to help underrepresented women find their voices and share their tapestry of perspectives as we all move through this world, one word at a time.”
LaWanda recently took some time to answer some questions for us. Show her some love in the comments or on Facebook/Instagram!
Tell us a little something about yourself:
After earning my journalism degree, I held reporting and writing jobs at Fortune magazine, washingtonpost.com, Chicago Tribune, and Dow Jones Newswires. I was eventually recruited into corporate communications and haven’t looked back. As long as I’m storytelling, I’m happy.
What do you love most about the Baltimore/DC area?
My windows overlook the Patapsco River and I absolutely love living, doing yoga, reading, and making meaningful connections near water. It’s a visual and audible gift.
How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow and what do you do?
Former colleagues steered me to Yellow Arrow. Notably, our Executive Director Annie Marhefka inspired me to explore getting involved. Between my family, career, and yoga teaching, there is no shortage of responsibilities, but Yellow Arrow just fit. The mission and purpose align with who I am and the energy I want to help put out into the world.
What are you working on currently?
My ice-skating game. I’m repeating level 3 adult ice-skating lessons to build upon my crossovers, turns, and a previous instructor’s description of me: “You’re like a low range freestyle skater.” I’ll take it!
What genre do you write and why?
Profile pieces are my sweet spot. I received a writing award in undergrad for a profile piece on my Aunt Jackie who owned a bookstore, Cultural Visions, and inspired students like me who came behind her at our alma mater. Profiling personal stories and experiences to help other people is one of the best ways to learn in my book.
Who is your favorite writer and why?
I’m inspired by the iconic Zora Neale Hurston who attended Howard University, like me, as well as Barnard College at Columbia University, like my daughter. And I’m enthralled by J. California Cooper whose words make me feel like I’m not reading but being taken for a ride.
Who has inspired and/or supported you most in your writing journey?
When I was a shy, soft-spoken girl who felt unheard, writing helped me find my voice. Honestly, God’s voice has encouraged me to write the most—with subtle nudges from people who’ve been placed along my path.
What do you love most about writing?
The release that it brings. I also take pride in helping other people communicate. As a ghostwriter for executives, I help convey business priorities to the people they need to make the products and shape the culture that will make the enterprise thrive.
What advice do you have for new writers?
Get a taste of each facet of journalism so that you can discover which genre suits you best.
*****
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts.
You can support us as we AWAKEN in a variety of ways: purchase one of our publications from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, join our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 102, Glen Arm, MD 21057). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.