Re-posted from ACEs Connection & ACES Too High… “Don’t ask ‘what’s wrong with you.’ Ask, ‘what happened to you.’” I watched the Oprah segment with my mother, Dr. Louise Hart, who heard Dr. Vincent Felitti speak about the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study ten years ago. At that time, she asked him, “What is being done … Continue reading
In the past year, life provided me with a very special honor: to return a great soul to the world. Let me introduce you to Joe. When I was growing up, my parents would open our home to strangers and friends who enriched our lives. One of these was Joe Wions, a New Jersey kid out of … Continue reading
In preparation for Hillary Clinton’s landslide win on election day, I choreographed “I Am Woman“ by Helen Reddy for my Zumba class. In searching for this feminist anthem on iTunes, I flashed back to my first rock concert (with my divorced-and-discovering-her-power mom), and then stumbled on this generation’s version. When you compare the lyrics to Jordin Sparks’ (yes, highly dance-able) “empowering female … Continue reading
The Lake I Love. When I saw the call for submissions for the first annual Aluminous Flash Mob Short Play Festival, I knew I had to write about the Pergola at Lake Merritt. How many circles have I made around that lake in all my years in Oakland? With friends, with family, alone? I walked it in … Continue reading
In my novel, The Souls of Her Feet, the downtrodden protagonist’s life changes, as in every Cinderella story, when a Fairy Godmother appears in her life. But in this version, the “godmother” is also her real-life, legitimate godfather — the former best friend of her deceased parents. I chose to make this traditionally female character … Continue reading
So, even the great Socrates was into fitness. He said, “No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” I’m not sure the guy thought much about … Continue reading
As my son wraps up his first 13 years of Public School Education, I am wrapping up my own 13-year career as a parent volunteer and, as it turned out, leader. I never expected, when we chose a school for Kindergarten, how much activism would be required. We entered the system at a time it was falling … Continue reading
Some of the most inspiring efforts to stand up against bullying are sartorial. It’s Bully Prevention Month — what are you wearing? Blue fingernails, pink shirts, guys in skirts—these have all been movements to stand up to bullying. Read more about it at Upstanders Stand Up in Style: Guest Post by Kristen Caven | OverDressed for … Continue reading
