Monday, June 5, 2017

Getting Involved: Joining the League of Women Voters

Like many of you, the morning of November 9, 2016, I awoke with a burning desire to do something. 

So, I donated to the causes I felt were most under threat and I called and sent postcards to my leaders and I signed petitions and I marched in January... but still, wasn't there something more I could do, I wondered. 

The morning after the Women's March, I went in search.

That's when I found the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization dedicated to improving our democracy through education and issues-based advocacy. 

The LWV was formed in 1920 as part of the Suffrage Movement. They focus on voter registration, holding candidate forums, educating the public on the pros and cons of proposed legislation, and advocating for the issues that align with the League's mission and that matter most to the public. 

This weekend, I attended my first LWV Convention, where I learned so much more about the rich and very impressive history of the League and the work it has done over the last century. This group of amazing people, some of whom have been with the league for more than 50 years, is dedicated to serving communities, building bridges across political divides, improving democracy, and organizing from a grassroots level. 

I wanted to find a way to be active in my community and to offer my time and energy in service toward an important cause. I am so grateful that I found the LWV, and I am honored and humbled to be part of their organization and to be involved in the work they do. Oh, and, they LOVE when new members join. 

Here are a few photos from the convention:




Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Hair Donation: Know your Stuff


13 inches of ponytail today! Previously, I've been a big supporter of Locks of Love and promoted their non-profit each time I've donated my hair; however, I wanted to do some research on hair donation agencies, since recently I’ve heard a thing or two that made me wonder if Locks of Love was the best recipient. I know many of you have mailed in your daughter's locks, which is why I want to share with you what I discovered in my research:

1.     Locks of Love: they are “a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.” What this means is that Locks of Love can charge for the hairpieces they construct from donated hair if the child’s family earns more than X amount (note, I tried to find out what the family would need to earn annually to receive the hairpiece for free, but I couldn’t find anything other than LofL requires a tax return as part of the application process). Details: must have 10” of non-gray, non-damaged hair (note, chemically treated is okay, just so long as the hair isn’t damaged).

2.     Wigs for Kids: this is a non-profit organization that makes “custom-made Hair Replacements” free of charge to families of children suffering from hair loss. Details: must have 12” of non-chemically treated and non-gray hair.

3.     Wigs 4 Kids: basically Wigs for Kids but for the region of Michigan. There are a few other regionally specific organizations, including Children with Hair Loss (Michigan) and Angel Hair for Kids (Canada).

4.     Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign: their organization accepts hair donations to create wigs for women fighting cancer. They work with the American Cancer Society. Details: must have 8” of non-chemically treated hair that is no more than 5% gray.




Special thanks to Lee Groh at Jolie Salon in Danville for my new hairdo! 

Sunday, January 22, 2017

My Best Reading from 2016

“Life being very short, and the quiet hours of it few, we ought to waste none of them in reading valueless books.”  -John Ruskin

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”  -Franklin D Roosevelt

As is my annual tradition, I’m sharing a list of my favorite books based on my reading from last year, just in case any of you have resolved to read more and need some recommendations. This year marked a change in pace in my reading opportunities, since I was finally free to read for pleasure and leisure after graduation.

And this year’s list is more timely than ever before because we know we must respond to the call to citizenry if our great country is to progress and because we know that a democracy only works well if we citizens are educating ourselves.

As always, I welcome the opportunity to talk about these books with any willing participants.

P.S. There is a common thread among these books. Many of them I picked up to read after having listened to interviews with the authors on Krista Tippett’s radio show “On Being,” with which I am obsessed. I’ve provided links to those interviews, just in case you’re interested in learning more from these inspiring humans.



Lit by Mary Karr
A memoir about a writer/academic whose life falls apart and then gets rebuilt. It’s about alcoholism, spirituality, healing, religion, family dysfunction, and second chances. And if that description doesn’t sell you, Karr is a hilarious and vibrant writer, full of surprises, wit, and humor. This memoir is a page-turner; I was fully engrossed the entire way through. (Listen to her interview here)

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
As we know, protecting our environment and changing the way we treat and interact with nature is a critical conversation in today’s world. Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, shares what she’s learned from her ancestors’ wisdom combined with her expertise as a scientist and professor of botany. Her thoughtful and intricately woven narrative calls us to action—to listen to and learn from our most ancient teachers, plants and animals. She implores readers to embrace nature’s generosity and to give the gift we have to offer back—this is what it means to live reciprocally with nature. Her book offers the recipe for survival for all of us on this planet. (Listen to her interview here)

Eat the Yolks by Liz Wolfe
Yes, it’s a book about food and diet, but it offers a perspective that may shock you. Wolfe tells readers to eat the yolks (yay!), but she also explores and debunks other myths related to “nutrition” that spread over time. Advocating for head-to-tail eating practices, Wolfe brings to light in a humorous way some of what we’ve unlearned over the decades, encouraging us to listen to our bodies and question the practices that have been handed down to us as gospel.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Dweck, a famous psychologist at Stanford University, reveals the secret to success—it all depends on your mindset. A fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset. She explains the danger behind praising “intelligence” and “talents” (things that imply natural ability and thus lean toward a “fixed” mindset) and instead encourages motivation strategies (things that acknowledge hard work, determination, effort, and practice, thus instilling a “growth” mindset). Mindset is especially valuable for educators, parents, coaches, leaders, managers, or anyone whose work involves encouraging and inspiring others to reach their potential.

Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James R. Doty
Doty, another famous professor at Stanford University, is not only a neurosurgeon, but also the founding director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. This biographical account explains how an encounter in a magic shop as a young boy changed the course of Doty’s life forever. An inspiring, gripping story that may just change your life forever, too! (Listen to his interview here).

No God But God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan
Before reading this book, I knew the basics about Islam, but I picked up Aslan’s book because I wanted to really understand Islam—the fastest-growing world religion that is so often distorted in US media and pop culture. In No God But God, Aslan explains the history of Islam and in doing so challenges the dangerous mentality (what he calls the “clash of civilizations”) that has caused so much misinformation and misunderstanding to circulate about Islam in the Western world. He also offers a forward-looking view of Islam and the ways in which its reformation can and should shape the world. An important book for anyone who needs to learn more about Islam—ahem—that probably means you. (Listen to his interview here)

Inferno by Dante
Since I vaguely remember reading Inferno in high school, I decided to audit a course called “The Dante Seminar” during my last semester in graduate school. Full of symbolism, numerology, spirituality, beauty, horror, salvation, and graphic imagery, Inferno offers something for every reader. Be sure to get a version that offers the Italian meter next to the English translation (you’ll want to try reading some of the lines in Italian aloud, so you hear the melodic meter and rhymes). Of course, you can continue on with Purgatorio and Paradiso if you want to complete all of La Commedia, but Inferno is by far the most engaging of the three sections.

Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
I had the good fortune to meet this talented poet last year when he won the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Prize at Claremont Graduate University. Reading his verse was a soulful experience. Full of spiritual insight, grace, love, gardening, and, of course, unabashed gratitude, Gay’s collection of poetry offers something to uplift the spirit and rejuvenate hope. Just read one poem a day, and see if you don’t start noticing the beauty in everything.