Paying It Forward: Through Twitter?

I tell people every day that I can bank on the Power of Twitter and Social Media. It connects people  and issues worldwide who in other circumstances would have never known each other.

I remember last fall when I walked into Kilwins Chocolates in Chicago's Old Town. I had been waiting for what seemed like all summer for them to open. Boy was I one happy woman; Being a chocolate lover and all. I was delighted to learn that first day that the owner was an African-American woman.

After the fall started to turn into winter, I wondered how Kilwins would make it through the cold winter months where business typically slows down for Ice Cream and Candy specialty stores. Each time I went in, I would talk to Jackie about hosting one of my HIV/AIDS Tweet-up's to help bring awareness to both the issue that is dear to my heart and her business. I mean, here we have an African-American woman owning a chocolate shop in Old Town, I knew I needed to help.

Serving Ice Cream at the Heart 2 Heart Tweet-up

So one day, I just went in and put my foot down. Jackie and I spent hours talking. Me of course giving bits and pieces of my life story and work, while teaching Jackie how to tweet. When I left that day, the deal was set, she would start using Twitter to bring more PR to her store as well as, host the Heart 2 Heart HIV Tweet-up on National Black AIDS Awareness Day.

That day I shared with Jackie how I was struggling finically. AIDS is no longer a sexy topic and speaking engagements are far and few in between. I talked about my dream to have the latest IPhone, but I just didn't see it in my budget. I needed the phone for my work. Even though I wasn't speaking as much, I was using Social Media heavily for my work. God called me to do this work and I must use every tool that is available, rather than cry about what isn't.


Well, the next day Jackie called and asked me to stop by the store. When I arrived her husband had his coat on and took me straight to the Apple Store. Jackie said to me, "You need to have the best technology possible for the important work that you are doing" WOW, I was so overwhelmed! And just a month later the Heart 2 Heart Tweet-up was a huge success.

Just the other day I told Jackie she needed to get back on her Twitter game because competition has moved into the neighborhood. Kilwins is not just an ice cream parlor but a wonderful chocolate store. She assured me she would once she got a new phone.

Well with a new phone in tote, she's been just tweeting away. And a week ago she tweeted Oprah and POW she was featured on one of the Life Classes.

I'm so honored to have been the one to introduce Jackie to Twitter, clearly it is doing wonders for her. But isn't it interesting how life works? Look how it all pays forward. I suggested Jackie host one of my HIV/AIDS Tweet-Up's. From that I got a new IPhone to Tweet about HIV/AIDS and now, through the power of Twitter, she reached Oprah.

Now Jackie is hosting her own Tweet-Up; How about that?! This Friday she will be hosting a viewing of Oprah's Life Classes and bringing attention to the Own Network. Yes she will have lots of free fudge for you to sample.

I'm joining her and you should too as we watch Oprah Life Class and Tweet to draw attention to the wonderful and powerful life classes and the new Oprah Winfrey Network. 

I'm going to be honest. I'm a new comer to Oprah, Life Classes, but boy am I hooked. You can check out my first blog here about the impact of Oprahs life class on my life.

But most of all join Jackie this Friday for Fudge, Oprah's Life Class and lots of Tweets. Kilwins Chocolate's,  6:00 p.m. to 9:30, 1405 N. Wells in Chicago. I will be there to hang out and watch O's Life Class with Jackie too. You gotta keep paying it forward. You can RSVP here! See ya tomorrow at Kilwins Chicago.