Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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from an inspired moment! It only takes one moment of inspira- tion to ignite positive change." The program's first five honorees were highlighted in a digital short film series, directed by actress and filmmaker Bryce Dallas Howard. Women featured in the series included trailblazers such as Rebecca Welsh, founder of The HALO organization, which helps homeless and at-risk youth heal and create a future through art therapy, and Allyson Ahlstrom, who provides cool clothes to kids in need across the country through her philanthropic Threads for Teens. "We're extremely proud through Inspired By Women™ to feature powerful stories of passionate and coura- geous women who take confidence, compassion, and strength to a whole new level," says Tal. "We hope their incredibly moving stories and accomplishments will serve as the catalyst that inspires all women to let go of their fears, take a chance, and realize their dreams. When you empower women, the sky's the limit!" Most recently, the Inspired By Women™ program honored Marchesa designer and cofounder Georgina Chapman, who works with the organization The Magic Bus Foundation, a non- profit that aims to lift communities in India out of poverty by providing education, sanitation, and mentoring efforts. It's an organization close to Chapman's heart as generations of her fam- ily have lived in India, and much of the artisanal embroidery and craftsmanship for which her designer gowns are known comes from these regions. Says Tal, "As we only just launched our newest film with Georgina Chapman, our goal is to ensure it touches as many lives as possible. As for the next film, we are looking towards a 2017 launch. It would be amazing, should the stars be aligned, to continue working with Bryce Dallas Howard. She has been such an integral part of the project, and is an extraordinary visionary and filmmaker, not to mention an incredibly inspiring woman herself!" "I always see us as goddesses," continues the petite Tal, whose soft-spokenness belies her self-confidence and steely determina- tion. "I think [women] should rule the world. We become mothers. And if we, as women, take seriously the responsibility of raising responsible human beings, this world would be a much better place. And by encouraging and empowering women to find themselves and teach them all these things, in 100 years we'll have a much better place to live. People all over the world have been so moved by the stories of our Inspired By Women™ nominees. I think I'm most proud of the countless lives we have been able to touch through the initiative—and hopefully not only to inspire, but also empower other women to make their own dreams a reality." . "Most of the women who inspire me are the women who are not afraid to be women—women that are strong, women that have an identity of their own, and who go for whatever they believe in." "It was an ocean, and sand, and it just clicked. It's like, Wow, this is who we are. We are a Mediterranean- inspired [company], and these are the colors of the Mediterranean." ENDURING INFLUENCE Carmen Tal has harnessed the power of argan oil in her company's beloved Moroccanoil Treatment (ABOVE), and used her platform as the leader of a multimillion-dollar beauty brand to celebrate female philanthropists, such as designer Georgina Chapman (RIGHT), shown here with Tal at an event for Tal's Inspired By Women™ campaign.