What it means to become a global advocate

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All 100+ Shot@Life Champions who left their families behind to travel to our nation’s capital in February to advocate for the millions of parents who don’t have access to life-saving vaccines.

My dear friend Jennifer Burden, mother, wife, advocate and founder of World Mom’s Blog, wrote a beautiful piece today as part of the Shot@Life’s 28 Days of Impact Campaign about her advocacy and recent trip to Uganda as part of Shot@Life delegation.

Please on link below to read her heartfelt post and learn more about the work we are doing for Shot@Life.

Click here to read: Uganda, Shot@Life, Capitol Hill, Champs & Mohammad!

Jen in Uganda.

Jen came into my life over a year ago through my WordPress blog. As a mother of two young girls living in the suburbs of New Jersey, Jen wanted a way to open up others to  global motherhood and our shared experiences. She had searched the net over and over and found tons of blogs on motherhood yet there were no blogs at all on what it is like to be a global mother. For all mothers, no matter where you live in the world, have a special bond. We may have different lives, cultures and parenting techniques, but we are all mothers. Hence came the dream of starting World Moms Blog, a volunteer-lead blog using mothers from around the world to tell their stories and share their voices.

It was one of my many articles on traveling that captured Jen’s eye. She read my post and bio and sent me an email asking me if I’d like to write for her blog. I had never written for anyone else before and was flattered that she had asked me to join the team. I joined World Mom’s Blog and submitted my first post on Surviving Postpartum Depression, and the rest was history.

Fast forward almost two years later and Jen and I have become wonderful friends and have entered a journey of global advocacy together. Jen was the one who recommended me to the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign where I became one of their first Champions. Jen was my partner in crime at BlogHer, the Social Good Summit and the Clinton Global Initiative conference where we got to listen to some of the greatest leaders in the world speak right before our eyes. A place I never in a million years expected to be.

Jen and I in NYC at the Babble Party during Social Good Summit.

I can’t imagine where I’d be if I never started a blog and never met Jen. She has changed my life, and for that I am utterly grateful. So without further ado, I want to give a special thanks to Jennifer Burden who has inspired me to reach for the stars. Thanks so much for your friendship, laughter, support and encouragement! You are a very special woman who I truly admire and is changing the world.

16 thoughts on “What it means to become a global advocate

    • Sarah Hughes – New Jersey – Proud Momma of two human babies and one canine, married to my best friend, Social Good Finder, Coffee Addict, Puppy Kisser, and Preeclampsia Foundation Walk Coordinator.
      Sarah Hughes on said:

      LOVE THIS!!!! I agree with you and Elizabeth-totally inspired by Jen to become a Shot@Life Champion!

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        So glad to have you on board! 🙂

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Ah, Elizabeth! I’m so glad the three of us met and have become good friends!!! I agree, it was meant to be! 🙂

  1. Jennifer Burden – United States of America – Founder of World Moms Network, an award winning website which writes from 30+ countries on motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. www.worldmomsnetwork.com @JenniferBurden @WorldMomsNetwk
    Jennifer Burden on said:

    This post means the world to me. Thank you for coming into my life. Can’t say much more through tears!!!!!

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh Jen! You have been such an amazing inspiration to me and such a good friend! 🙂

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! 🙂

  2. Both of you are inspirations and thanks for sharing a little of your journey together here! I wish I could be more a part of these US-based advocacy efforts, but I’m proud to know the two of you are working on behalf of such important causes!

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! You are doing your own share of inspiring things!!!! 🙂

  3. You have taken on such wonderful causes Nicole. Your family must be very proud of you, as they should be. 🙂

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks LuAnn! 🙂 I have some exciting news I’ll be announcing soon too related to my advocacy work and blogging. Stay tuned! 🙂

      • Can’t wait! 🙂

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Thanks LuAnn! I am so incredibly excited. I feel so blessed. 🙂

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes it does! 🙂 I’m addicted!

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