Meet Tanya Talks

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Welcome to Tanya Talks™ 
I am Tanya Owens, and I have a background in radio & television production, Christian ministry,  adult learning, performance improvement, and organizational development.

Education 

Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a concentration in Radio & Television Production (that degree is now split between two different degree programs: Communications & Digital Media Production) and a Minor in Music from SUNY New Paltz. I also studied German while in college.

Three Master's degrees:
  1. Attended Seminary and obtain two degrees from Oral Roberts University School of Theology & Missions, now called the College of Theology & Ministry: 
    1. Master of Arts in Biblical Literature.  
      Biblical Literature is the collection of writings that make up the Bible. Utilizing exegesis (critical interpretation) and hermeneutics (the science of interpretive principles) perspectives, tools and methods to interpret biblical content responsibly and perceptively. In order to better interpret Old and New Testament content, the curriculum helped  develop a working knowledge of biblical languages. I studied biblical Hebrew, biblical Greek and theological German.
    2. Master of Arts in Advanced Languages. 
      As an expansion of the Bib. Lit. degree I studied these additional biblical languages: Aramaic, Syriac, and Ugaritic and translated two books of the Bible - Ruth & Mark as well as several passages in other books.
  2. Master of Science in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation from Syracuse University.
Instructional design is the process of creating learning experiences that are effective, efficient, and engaging for learners. It involves a comprehensive approach that considers the needs of learners, the objectives of learning, and the constraints of resources. It is both a systematic and systemic process.

Certifications

  • Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI 
    Issued Jul 2011 · Expired Jul 2017 · Credential ID 1437146
  • Accelerating Implementation Methodology Accreditation (AIM), IMA
    Issued Jun 2009 · Expired Jun 2013
  • Human Performance Improvement (HPI) I-V Certificate, ASTD 2008
  • Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, Pfizer 2008

Proudest Career Accomplishment

2012 Pfizer Global Health Fellow - China 
Addressed health issues for underserved populations in China.

Who am I?

A woman who hates labels and being confined to descriptions that boxes you in. What I do to earn money is only one facet of who I am. But, to satisfy this field on my blog: I am a writer, photographer, and a content creator. I am  passionate about my pets, well they think I am their pet, social justice, nature, and God. This blog started as a way to talk about my passions and musings, such as: travel, my personal evolution, and exegeting and expositing the Scripture.

However, it has evolved to more than that. I am apolitical. My politics lean right/left/middle/etc. I am not your typical anything. Since I was a little girl, my favorite subject in school was social studies, and as an adult I am still intrigued with history and current events as it relates to social issues, especially justice.

What is life if you sit by comfortable while people are oppressed? 

What is life, if you are being oppressed by an evil regime
and you don’t try to break free from the chains?

I cannot sit idly by and do nothing. Someone once said the pen is mightier than the sword. So this blog is A Voice Crying in the Desert. Or A Woman Screaming in the Wind. And as such will at times consist of random ramblings, targeted social action, faith in practice, and life in general.

Feeling your Feelings - Telling your Truth.
#TanyaTalks

Most Popular Posts

Love Myself by Tracee Ellis Ross

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Sometimes when a song ministers to me I play it over and over and let it wash over my soul, speaking to every crevice of my being. I discovered the song Love Myself , sung by Tracee Ellis Ross in the movie The High Note on January 3, 2021.  Tracee Ellis Ross Singing Credit: Glen Wilson / Focus Features And the song quickly became my anthem for 2021. When I first heard the song while watching the movie on HBO Max  I quickly looked it up on YouTube and played it over and over.  Culture & Society With the world in an upheaval from the COVID-19 virus and America destined to relive every ugly part of her racist past by systemically and systematically killing Black people for: sleeping in their own beds  playing video games in their own homes  watching TV in their own homes  Driving While Black  Calling the police for assistance  just breathing, existing   Then the violent insurrection on January 6, 2021 at the nation's Capitol, the second impeachment of the 45th president that
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COVID-19 Pandemic

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I have been reluctant to blog about this pandemic. WHO COVID-19 Dashboard Map Well, not initially. I had initially planned to do a series of blog posts about the pandemic and sprinkle them with my micro-blogging. I may still do that. But, today I feel reluctant to blog because I have loved ones battling this virus.  One is out of the hospital, one is in the hospital, one may go to the hospital, and another lost their battle at home.  I am a whole host of emotions right now. But, I wasn't really until a few hours ago - well that would be until the evening of April 7, 2020 - since it is now the wee hours of April 8, 2020 as I am writing this.  I am outraged - and really OUTRAGED over the hate and greed that consumes the United States of America. Because of the greed & hate so many Americans are losing their lives.  I could hear the wailing of families today and it immediately brought me to the wailing women & families in the  the Bible - In the Old
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Is WIX the Best Website Builder and Host for Photographers? Unbiased Review

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Finding the perfect hosting company for your website for photographers is a pain point. If you are an art based photographer, like I am, choices are slim. I could pigeon hole my needs into one of the many turnkey portfolio/client based solutions like Smug Mug or Zenfolio, or go the route other fine art photographers have gone, by building my website from scratch. Building a website from scratch  gives me greater flexibility to build the website and ecommerce solution that best meets my needs as a Fine Art Nature Photographer. So that is the direction I chose to go in when I decided to use Wix to host my website.  Contrary to popular belief you can change the template if you host your website with Wix. Lemme explain: I have several websites; some are on main domains and others, like this blog are on a sub-domain.  Background November 2021, I decided not to renew my subscription with the company that hosted my main website since 2009, a 12 year relationship. My needs weren't bei
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Minneapolis Protests - My Life Matters

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There is a scene in the first Marvel Avengers movie where the Black Widow is talking with Loki. At the conclusion of the conversation, the Black Widow gets on the radio and says that Loki intends to rile up the Hulk. For decades white racists/supremacists have planned for the inevitable race war. They are the only ones planning for it. But, filled with blood lust they do everything they can to provoke us, rile us up. They insult, oppress, and kill us. They are so full of blood lust that they will burn the country to the ground to get their race war. Every mass shooting or police execution, we march and protest - crying out for change - nothing happens. So we weep, we kneel, we pray, we run for office, we educate ourselves and become lawyers and judges. We try to work within the system to improve and change the system. But if you keep poking the bear the bear will eventually strike back. #minneapolisriots I hear nothing but facts pic.twitter.com/ge2HtUZN0Q — JTP
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Welcome to The Voice Blog

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A Voice Crying in the Desert  © 2010 Tanya Owens Complex, complicated, simple… The desert, barren, desolate, lifeless… Hope optimistically screams… Rationality targets focus to the good, the wholesome, the enriched… Heart beating, pounding, yearning… A Voice Crying in the Desert Isaiah 40:3 & John 1:23 I wrote this poem back in 2010. It is inspired by two passages of scripture one from the old testament written by the prophet Isaiah and one from the new testament written by the apostle John about the prophet John. Isaiah was prophesying comfort and deliverance for Israel who was at that time being oppressed by another nation. Fast forward to the prophet John, stating that he is the fulfillment of that scripture as he is that voice calling in the wilderness. The one who prepares the way for the Lord. There is another passage of scripture Jeremiah 20:9 "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like
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