Every Man, Woman and Child (& Every Living Soul): The Original Musical Presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came out on December 10th, 2022 the 75th Anniversary of the UDHR…. …with my name on the cover! I had the honor of telling the story of this groundbreaking community musical project by composer Merrill […]
Category: Be Inspired!
Pandemic Poetry Page
Poetry is pouring out of this pandemic and seeping into my screen. This vivid blast of creativity and vision has been a lifeline of hope amidst the uncertainty and anxiety. I’m collecting some highlights on this page. First out of the gate was Lockdown by Father Richard Hendrick. The next thing on my radar was […]
Handwashing & Heartmath
Before you read this…take a moment and breathe. Place your hand over your chest area, near your heart. Breathe slowly into the area for about a minute, focusing on a sense of ease entering your mind and body. By the end of this article you’ll know why I suggest this… Back in January, when the […]
Cinderella and Human Rights
I have been focused on two things, lately: The re-launch of my book, The Souls of Her Feet as the first edition of the Fairytale Reality Project, and Every Man, Woman and Child, a world party focused on teaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through music. What on earth do these two things have to […]
Stop Going Nowhere
In 2007, I started researching this question: How much gas does it take to start a warm car? Guess: 5 minutes’ worth of gas? 2 minutes’? 1 minute’s worth? 30 seconds? Or 10 seconds? Back when cars had carburetors, the answer was 3-5 minutes. Now that they are all made with fuel injection, the answer […]
Mending After Malaria ~ a friendly fundraiser
You know that story, about the guy on the beach throwing starfish back into the ocean after a storm? And how the writer of the story asks him, “How can it matter, one starfish at a time, with so many who are stranded?” And the guy tosses another back and says, “It mattered to this […]
Two infinity—and back again.
As if in celebration of my “twin sister” Jenny and I finally taking our trip together, Italy mirrored our joy with a symphony of doubles. And sometimes triples. And an infinite number of memorable moments in the two weeks we were together. I’ll start with the Davides. Dah-vee-day. A Davide I met on my last […]
“This changed my life” —Oprah learns about ACEs and Trauma-informed care
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 […]
“Black Music Matters” Dance Party Playshop 2/25/18
There is a goosebump moment I enjoy, in my life, on a regular basis: when I lead the song “Waka Waka” in my Zumba classes, and a room full of old folks of European and Asian descent raise their arms reverently at the end as Shakira says “We are all Africa.” The same thing happens […]
The Flourishing Artist
Greek philosophers defined happiness as the joy you feel when moving towards your highest potential. The Flourishing Artist Creative Growth Activator combines seminars, creative retreats, speakers & workshops, coaching & consulting, convivia, and creative partnerships in a community of art and wellness in an inspiring Oakland retreat. I created The Flourishing Artist to unite my artistic career with my work teaching […]
I Dreamed a Word
I am so tired of talking about bullying. Aren’t you? I am so ready to start talking about the opposite! Friendship. Cooperation. Happiness. Positivity. So much, in fact, that I created a whole new word for it. I am so proud of this book we wrote, my mom and I. And the blog I created to expand […]
The Flourishing Artist LAUNCH!
This summer, I am thrilled to present a new creative effort that goes to another level. It’s not theater, it’s not literature, it’s not a performance: it’s YOU. I woke up one morning and realized the people who are most attracted to my literary works and death-defying creative efforts are the coolest people in the world. […]