The Candles That Connect Us
Celebrating the Global Village on the 111th International Women’s Day There is comfort in rituals. One of my favorites is the Christmas Eve candlelight service, during which, for about an hour, it feels like peace on earth might be achievable. Such
11 Truths I’ve Gleaned on My Trip Into Personal History Preservation
Launching a service for personal history preservation wasn’t the logical next step in my career path, but a colleague’s need for it and interest in funding it helped me see its potential. The offer came in September 2019 at a
Digital Storytelling: The Ultimate Survival Skill for Innovators, Educators and Brands
Storytelling, the ancient communication method that enabled our earliest ancestors to stay informed, strengthen bonds and create a shared identity, is gaining ground as a marketing strategy. Consumer brands from Corona to Patek Philippe are wielding digital storytelling to boost
Be Proud of Your Heritage and Share It With Others
Akwete Tyehimba was born Black in America but her cultural roots are deeply embedded in Africa. She and her late husband Bandele made a commitment to raise their three children with a foundation that honors their African heritage. The name
The ‘Arte’ of Living Well in San Miguel
“I paint flowers so they will not die,” wrote Frida Kahlo, one of Mexico’s most celebrated artists. Immortalizing the vitality of nature is one motive for creating art. Another is invigorating the community – and few cities better reflect the
How to Write a Keepsake Letter They Will Cherish Forever
My mother loved writing letters. She used letter writing as a creative way to express her mind and to give a piece of it to those she loved. Through letters, my mother was able to convey her thoughts more completely
The Power of Imagery and Storytelling Elements in Family Narratives
One of the most powerful novels that I ever read was Zora Neal Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” The most memorable passage in the book was the hurricane scene. In vivid detail, Ms. Hurston so captured the fury of
History’s Hidden Hero: A Tribute to My Favorite Uncle
I only met him once, and that was as a young boy, but I always knew Uncle Bob as Dad’s “favorite uncle.” Though Uncle Bob had lived much of his adult life in Bakersfield, California—quite a distance from our home
Encouraging by Nature: Jane Baxter Lynn on the Power of Mentoring
Award-winning mentor, conservationist, and strategic nonprofit advisor Jane Baxter Lynn of JBL Strategies believes that intentionally creating mentoring relationships is the key to career and personal success. It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
Your Family History Holds a Key to Your Identity. Don’t Lose It.
If you quizzed yourself about your family history, how much would you know? How much would you know how your parents or grandparents grew up, how they met their spouses, and what experiences or sacrifices they made as they navigated