North Carolina is facing a crisis. Our childhood hunger rates hover around 1 in 3 or 1 in 4, depending on the county. That's higher than the national average. There are amazing people and organizations in the trenches of government making sense of policy and legislation to ensure … [Read more...] about From the Mouths of Babes to the Mouths of the Hungry
Dirt and Noise
Thoughts & Prayers Are Trite
I scope out exits everywhere I go now. I peek under seats to gauge the space beneath. I look for columns and other such things to duck behind if need be. I consider where I can hide and shield my sons. For ages I've kept this to myself, fearing I'd look like a paranoid crazy … [Read more...] about Thoughts & Prayers Are Trite
Write to Those Doing the Right Thing
I've spent my entire life writing to legislators, companies, and movie stars. I had written to President Jimmy Carter, Hamburger Helper, and Lucille Ball before I turned 12. Decades later, I continue to write letters. I even taught a segment in my public relations class about … [Read more...] about Write to Those Doing the Right Thing
It’s Time to Stop Being Surprised by Harassment
"Me too." It's a thing happening on Facebook right now. Women are simply uttering the words "me too" to illustrate just how many of us have faced harassment in the workplace. My feed is filled with this. I have never in my life had a job where I was not sexually harassed. The … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Stop Being Surprised by Harassment
Happy 14th Birthday, Bird
Dear Bird, You know I’m the sentimental type, right? My heart usurps my brain, for better or worse. You might not realize this yet, but you and I share the same constitution. I see so much of myself in you, the good bits and the not-so-good bits. We are both smarter than … [Read more...] about Happy 14th Birthday, Bird
The Promise of Darkness, Eclipse 2017
We’ve been a nation shrouded in darkness since November 9, yet today we welcomed the darkness as we eagerly awaited the total solar eclipse. In a paradoxical twist, it was the promise of darkness that breathed an airy lightness into our country. Today was a … [Read more...] about The Promise of Darkness, Eclipse 2017
“What did you do to make the world better?” – Support Backpack Buddies Mediathon
"We know that a peaceful world cannot long exist, one-third rich and two-thirds hungry." -- Jimmy Carter It is criminal that we have hungry children in our community. These aren’t far away kids whose faces you’ll never see (as if that mattered). I’m talking about … [Read more...] about “What did you do to make the world better?” – Support Backpack Buddies Mediathon