Don’t Be Afraid — Be Focused, Determined, Hopeful, Empowered

May we all find this place of hope and motivation and the courage to keep showing up… and may all young people find peers and adults to walk with you, encourage you and remind you of what a badass human being you are and how incredibly important your wisdom, skills and insight are to the […]

We Are All Truly Miraculous

An Evening of Poetry, Music and The Spoken Word at The White House May 12, 2009. I’m incredibly moved and inspired. Beautiful opening performance by ELEW and Esperanza Spalding, soulful spoken word by Mayda del Valle and a powerful performance by ELEW. “We’re here to celebrate the power of words and music to help us […]

Children Keeping it Simple, Teaching Simplicity

A few inspiring comments from my teachers in simplicity, children. I was participating in Seattle’s Martin Luther King, Jr., March and Rally this year with some of the faculty, students and parents from the school I work at. During the march one of our first graders looked up at me and said, “Oh, I know […]

An Inauguration for the Ages

An Inauguration for the Ages by The NATION The spirits of the civil rights movement–and movements for social justice everywhere–were with Obama on this historic Inauguration Day. Artist John Mavroudis imagines the occasion –one witnessed not in flesh and blood, but in the bonds of justice and peace. The historical figures that helped make Obama’s […]

Together We Can Make a Difference: Opening Space with Children

I feel blessed and thankful to live a life that includes so many opportunities to be inspired. On January 20th, 2009 after President Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony I had the opportunity to spend my day hosting 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders in Open Space. The idea was birthed in a planning committee with 3 third grade […]

The Possibility of Transparency, Authenticity, Inspiration

A comment I left at Change.gov this morning… and now I’ll share it with you: Last night, December 31st, 2008, I was out walking the dog with my friend. The new year turning point was approaching. My friend said to me, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Obama released a short, inspiring expression encouraging people about […]