Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke is author of That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman's Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (iUniverse, Inc. - December 2009) and Love's Troubadours - Karma: Book One (iUniverse, Inc. - August 2007 - http://www.lovestroubadours.com). Leeke used her background as a lawyer and finance professional to become President and CEO of Kiamsha.com, LLC. Through Kiamsha.com, LLC, she shares her gifts as a writer, blogger, artist, creativity coach, workshop facilitator, yoga teacher, Reiki Master practitioner, radio host, DC Social Media Examiner for Examiner.com, social media strategist, online content publisher, and social networking site community manager. She created a diverse portfolio of social media projects to promote her healing arts services and commitment to volunteerism and community building. They include:
1) kg yoga life practices' blog
http://kgyoga.blogspot.com
2) kg yoga life practices' Kind and Gentle C-OM-MUNITY Yoga Meetup Group
http://yoga.meetup.com/584
3) Go Green Sangha Social Networking Site
http://gogreensangha.ning.com
4) Go Green Sangha Radio
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/21325
5) Go Green Sangha on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/gogreensangha
6) Go Green Sangha Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=47505072491&ref=ts
Currently, she works as an artist-in-residence for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts (http://www.smithfarm.com). As an artist-in-residence, Leeke engages patients and medical staff in creative expression, guiding them to tap inherent creative and cultural roots through breathing, relaxation, and Reiki healing touch exercises; and a variety of mediums including visual arts, music, storytelling, and creative writing.
Since 1995, Leeke’s mixed media collages, wire sculptures, and paintings have been exhibited in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Her artwork was featured in Heart and Soul Magazine in 2001. Leeke's work often reflects her passion for issues affecting people of color and women. In 2002, Leeke created and donated Our Womanist Spirit wire sculpture collection and signature poem to The Women’s Collective, a direct services organization that serves women living with HIV/AIDS. Her concern for people living with HIV/AIDS motivated her to create Ask The Troubadours Who Have Come From Those Who Have Loved, a wire sculpture collection dedicated to African Americans and World AIDS Day. The collection was donated to Howard University Hospital in 2003.
After her debut novel, Love's Troubadours - Karma: Book One was published in 2007, Leeke created the following social media projects to support her reading audience:
-BAP Living social networking site
http://baplivingforbapsandebw.ning.com
-BAP Living Radio
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/18598
-BAP Living Facebook Group
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15124364305
-BAP Living Myspace Group
http://groups.myspace.com/bapliving
These social media projects celebrate and connect women of African descent who self-identify as Black American Princesses (BAPs) and educated Black women (EBW). They also offer BAPs and EBW an opportunity to build online communities that function as sacred space where they can tell their stories, affirm each other, dream out loud, laugh, learn, and discuss issues of concern.
Leeke's poetry was featured in Beyond the Frontier: African American Poetry for the 21st Century edited by E. Ethelbert Miller. She also published several books of poetry and women’s creativity workbooks that are used in her workshops and creativity coaching practice. They include My Soul Speaks, I am my sistas keeper, Baby I got it bad for you blues, Feminist Soul, Monday Morning Meditations, Be Fearless and Choose Love, Our Womanist Spirit, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and La Bohemienne. In addition, Leeke has facilitated expressive arts and self-care workshops for women of color living with HIV/AIDS; cancer patients, their caregivers, and health care providers; interfaith communities attending the Washington National Cathedral’s women’s spirituality conferences; children with unique learning styles; and lay ministers.
Leeke is a graduate of Morgan State University (B.A. in French, 1986), Howard University School of Law (J.D., 1989), and Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M. in Securities and Financial Regulation, 1991). Her memberships include the National League of American Pen Women, Yoga Alliance, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington’s Business Volunteer Program, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., All Souls Unitarian Church, and Insight Meditation Community of Washington’s People of Color Sangha. Leeke lives and plays in Washington, DC’s historic U Street neighborhood.
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