I hauled the Sunday paper in this past weekend.  The back-to-school shopping circulars added heft to the normal weight.  No surprise--even without the tax free holiday weekend.  We're all gearing up for the coming school year whether it be for our kindergartener starting afresh or for our college-bound student leaving home

Many of you know that I have lived for over a decade in an under-resourced neighborhood in Durham.  I love my neighbors and my community.  And I have learned the truth of Aboriginal activist Lilla Watson’s sage axiom, “If you have come to help me you are wasting your time; but

Little known fact: My dad started teaching me how to drive (stick-shift) at age 12 and the first episode was an emotional disaster…for both of us.  I don’t think my Dad had thought this through.  He was introducing me to all aspects of driving (steering, braking and accelerating with a

Have you ever heard the expression, “Guess I gotta pay the piper.”?  It is often used about a situation where a price is paid that is considered too high or unfair, but failing to pay the price often results in dire consequences.  This expression is based on the story of

I was at a family gathering recently.  An elderly relative asked my teenage nephew, "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?"  My nephew looked over at me hoping I'd rescue him from the situation.  I didn't.  But I also recognized the pressure a teen can feel

I was at a Saturday team-building workshop two weeks ago with folks from a non-profit I work with, and in a small group we were invited to write down 5 questions to ask each other.  I received a total of 15 but only had to answer 2 (so it was

Most of you probably don’t know this, but my undergraduate major was geography.  That’s right, geography.  Is it because I love maps?  Well, actually, yes, I do, and my friends and family can tell you that my “go-to” present is always the most recent edition of the Atlas of the