Femmina Forte’s Journal

One of Life’s gifts that I am very grateful for is the gift of relationships.  I have been in awe of the people I’ve come across since the beginning of my pursuit of this dream that is Femmina Forte.  Leza Raley-Labrador is definitely a rare find among them.  She is a most amazing woman with great determination and passion to accomplish many great things in the name of Peace.  Stay close & follow Leza through her journey and perhaps you too will be inspired to take action!

Leza’s website:  www.thinkpeacemedia.com

Follow Leza: www.twitter.com/thinkpeacemedia

Bio taken from: www.thinkpeacemedia.com

The Journey:

Leza Raley-Labrador was born in the Windy City, a Chi Town girl who grew up between the fashionable streets of Chicago and a quaint little town just minutes from the city. She was raised with a rich family history that wove its fibers into the very grain of her soul, creating the woman she is today. From stories of her family who stood up and fought against the Ku Klux Klan and a grandmother born in Sweden and abandon in America as a child, who grew into a woman whose life’s passion was to educate and house homeless girls in Chicago, to a grandfather who migrated from Italy, so that he could provide a better life for his family and who made a success of himself in a foreign country; it is no wonder why Leza is passionate about global issues and inspiring people to make a difference.

Leza developed her passion for the entertainment industry as a young child. She started on her path as a professional dancer at a very young age, but in her early twenties her career came to an abrupt end, due to a serious car accident, which took two years of her life and closed the door on her dreams. Strong willed and passionate, she did not give up on life, just altered her destination.

Leza began her new life at a local radio station as an account executive and in the promotions department. Taking the industry by storm, she soon acquired and managed major accounts with national advertising agencies and local businesses. Because of Leza’s hard work and dedication, Pride Communications was the ONLY suburban Chicago station at that time to receive import and distribution dollars from Barton Liquor and Spirits and Hayes Distribution. She developed a nightclub program utilizing CHR and Rock stations in three counties. For two consecutive years, Leza was awarded sales person of the year. Nicknamed the “Idea Guru”, she created, developed and executed effective radio advertising and marketing campaigns, promotions and schedules. She wrote, produced and voiced image and product specific radio campaigns. Her primary accounts included; Barton Liquor and Spirits, Hayes Distribution (Miller Products & Imports), Coors, Budweiser, Coca Cola, Pepsi and Illinois Route 66.

While working in the broadcast industry, Leza was scouted and recruited as the Director of Marketing for “Aria Model and Talent Management” in Chicago, which was bought out by Ford Models. Since leaving Chicago she has worked in three major markets and most recently left a position as the Director of a Los Angles based modeling and talent agency. Leza has worked with renowned models, talent, and fashion and advertising clients. Primary clients include: Gucci, Bradley Bayou, Christian Dior, Cartier, Hugo Boss, Kenzo, Oprah Show, Extra, Access Hollywood, Levi, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, FOX, CBS, Versace, Tyra Banks Show, Victoria Secret, Fredericks of Hollywood, Elle, Harpers Bazaar, MTV, Apple, Coca Cola, VH1, Bloomingdales, STYLE Network, Bruce Webber, Victor Skrebneski, Herb Ritz, David La Chapelle, Italian Vogue, American Vogue, Jack Guy, Jeff Lipsky, V Magazine, Mario Testino, L¹Uomo GQ, Sports Illustrated, ID, Cosmopolitan, Diesel, Glamour, Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Steven Klein, Ellen Von Unwerth, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, Abercrombie Fitch, Revlon, L¹oreal, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, ABC and David Anthony.

As a new chapter unfolds in her life, Raley-Labrador is now working side by side with her husband filmmaker, Luis Labrador. Utilizing her years of experience she is focused on filmmaking and developing projects that will inspire, entertain, and create awareness of the serious issues that shape our lives and truly make a difference in how one sees the world and how one can take part in change. Stay tuned for coming attractions…

Giving Back:

A gypsy at heart, Leza has traveled worldwide exploring and submerging herself in different cultures, beliefs and experiencing first hand the joy and pleasures of meeting new faces and creating new found friendships as well as experiencing the gift of opening her heart to unfamiliar lands and people. Her travels have made her more compassionate, witnessing the severe poverty, starvation and first hand experience of the imbalance and desperate situations around the world.

Leza believes that peace starts within oneself and from there it radiates into the world. To have unconditional love for oneself and to have an understanding of internal peace creates compassion for humanity, Earth and all living creatures.

Leza has donated countless hours to charities, volunteering her time fundraising, raising awareness and producing charity events. A partial list of charities and events includes: Special Olympics bowling events, UNICEF, Susan G. Koman, Hands Across America, “Exposed”, a photographic book of celebrities by Brie Childers for breast cancer, “Pink”, an all-star event raising funds for LABCA and RAINN, “Save the Music”, a VH1 non-for-profit charity, Frederick’s of Hollywood Lingerie Art Auction & Fashion Show, Holly Rod Foundation and Design care benefit, Catholic Charities, The Walter & Connie Payton Foundation, Stop Aids and American Cancer Society. Raley-Labrador is interested in continuing to donate her available time to social and environmental issues and making a difference in the world.

“Together Change Is Possible!”