Reader,

Greetings from Maryland!

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month, Retinoblastoma Awareness Month, Star Wars Day and Met Gala Day.
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It’s my first time back in the Maryland area for a good 20 days since I lived here from 2012-2014, and wow, so much has changed. Back then, there was no Uber, no Turo, no Cash App or Zelle, or food delivery apps. There was barely a Google Review for businesses and no shuttle to take me from the MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) train to the BWI airport for a simple pickup. It’s wild to see how much has evolved.

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​Will I stay here?​
Who knows. For now, I’m being called to stay here to work on the See Life Differently documentary again (been in development since the See Life Through a Different Lens book came out in 2019). It feels like the right time to jump back in, and I’ve got a bit more of a short video reel to share with you. Stay tuned for updates! The last time I was in the Maryland area was back in 2018 for a social media marketing event gig. It’s been a while, but it feels good to be back in this diverse region.

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​A Full-Circle Moment at MKTRHUB​
I had such a great time as a panelist at the Black Women Marketers®' MKTRHUB. The audience was super engaged, asking thoughtful questions that reminded me I was right where I needed to be. It was a good reminder of how important community is—it gives you grace and empathy just when you need it most.
It was so heartwarming to be in a space where people recognized me by name and face, and I finally got to meet folks I’ve known online for years. Some even remembered me from last year, though life (with its ups and downs from grief and loss) kept me from attending. It’s never too late to show up for yourself and your purpose.

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Big shout-out to Strategist Jasmine Gibson and Jasmine Coleman-Miller for inviting me to be on the panel and for recognizing the work and conversations I’ve been pouring into over the past couple of years. Grateful to be given me another chance to be in the room.
Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew, HonD of Root Branch Media Group, and my cousin, Lenora Henry, MPA, attended. It was such a full-circle moment for me.

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When I used to live in the Maryland area, I had a film internship turned job in Baltimore, so I knew this area well from my days studying photography and videography back in 2012-2014. Little did I know, the room where my panel was held was the same room where I once taught youth how to improve their photography and video skills for a film summer camp. If that’s not a full-circle moment, I don’t know what is.

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​In Other Marketing News​
Jennifer Lopez just dropped the trailer for her latest rom-com, Office Romance, and added a fun twist by including a LinkedIn profile update as part of the marketing campaign. It’s such a clever way to connect creative and corporate dots. Here’s the video.​

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Meanwhile, iShowSpeed, the athlete who live-streamed his African continent tour in 2025, recently completed touring the Caribbean islands and has teamed up with Expedia—or should I say, Expeedia (get it?). His YouTube content is as energetic and entertaining as the Guess the Country trivia on Expedia. Check it out here.​

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​May Awareness Months​
May is both Mental Health Awareness Month and Retinoblastoma Awareness Month.Take one hour to reflect, support, and spread awareness about these important causes. If you're looking for nonprofits to donate to or learn from, check out Silence the Shame, World Eye Cancer Hope, or Know the Glow.

If you're looking for stories to listen to, check out the episodes of my See Life Different (formely known as Living Legacy) podcast called:

• Retinoblastoma - I’m a Cancer Survivor (14 minutes)
• Mental Health and Travel Panel Live from Nomadness Fest (26 minutes)

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​Upcoming Speaking Engagement​
I’ll be speaking on the main stage at WITS Travel Creator (Women in Travel Summit) on May 30. If you’re attending, there’s also an opportunity to book mentor meetings with me. If you have not gotten your ticket yet, use ZAAKIRAH10 for your discount code. https://witsummit.com/wits-chattanooga​

Can't make it? Let’s connect on a virtual strategy mentorship so I can support you on your Quarter 2 goals and support you with making sure you are being inclusive!

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​New Resource Alert​
I got frustrated with seeing the social media posts that did not have captions, that did not have any post descriptions, and that had white text on an orange background that was super hard to see. I kept asking myself, how many people are making these posts with disabilities in mind?

If you make content or know someone who does, share this guide with them. It has tips to help you create content that works for everyone and how to be more empathetic while you are out and about and traveling. Accessibility matters, and I’m excited to share this with you: How to Make Your Content More Accessible and Empathetic for People with Disabilities.

$49.00 Accessible by Design: A Travel Creator’s Accessibility Guide Accessibility isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about empathetic awareness. This ten page guide is for: Creators who... Read more Get it now!

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Thanks for reading. I appreciate your support. Let’s keep creating, connecting, and making things happen together.
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I am Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) Muhammad, a deafblind retinoblastoma cancer survivor, creative tech-savvy entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, with over a decade of experience in photography and digital communications. As a brand cultivating strategist, author, and podcaster, I empower you to step outside of your comfort zone, understand your purpose, and show you how to powerfully tell your story through digital marketing. As your brand therapist, I uncover your blind spots showcasing your superpower. Learn More $9.99 Seeing Life Through a Different Lens eBook This book will inspire you to overcome adversity with resilience. Featuring real-life stories about a young adult and... Read more Get it now! ​ P.S. I am speaking at WITS Chattanooga About Accessible by Design How All Creators Can Build Inclusive, Empathetic Travel Content in the main stage on May 30th! Travel has the power to transform how we see ourselves and connect with others—but not all creators or audiences experience the world the same way. I will share what's too often overlooked in travel media and the simple, practical shifts that make videos, photos, storytelling, and platforms more accessible to disabled, neurodivergent, and visually impaired audiences, broadening content's reach and impact. I used to live in Chattanooga and my dad is from a small town an hour away! You will want to stay for the networking, hands-on workshops, and community-led conversations! The code must be entered at the top of the popup window BEFORE selecting the ticket. Code for you only: ZAAKIRAH10 ​https://witsummit.com/wits-chattanooga​ ​ ​ ​​​​​​

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