A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Kids — Hello and welcome to the newest magazine from the Inkandescent PR + Publishing Co., Inkandescent Kids. I cooked up this project in my mind back in 2017, but wasn’t quite ready to bring it to fruition in the summer of 2025.
Is with great pride and love that I share with you the publication for kids, by kids, about kids. Each day, we bring you new ideas and information designed to inspire, inform, and BeInkandescent!
Think Like a Reporter: Scroll down to learn how students K-20 can become part of our project with Our Team of professional journalists as their guides. We’ll help them write articles, shoot photos, create illustrations and videos, and more!
Watch our Video of the Day: From Elaine’s Literary Salon in Alexandria, VA, bestselling author Jeffrey James Higgins interviews Karen Leggett Abouraya, author of the amazing children’s book, ZamZam
Read our Articles of the Day: Below you’ll find essays by two of our Inkandescent student writers:
“Nonviolence,” by high school sophomore Shay Jackson. This is her award-winning essay from the “Living the Dream” contest
You are invited: Please peruse the website, where you’ll find articles that Inkandescent has written for and about kids. They are sorted by topic in the 20 categories in the sidebar. And you’ll find our podcast show on InkandescentRadio.com and dozens of kid-friendly video interviews on Inkandescent.tv.
We are on a mission: Children around the globe are invited to become a writer, author, illustrator, photographer, and videographer, and tell each other — and the grown-ups that are leaving the world in your hands — what you are thinking, feeling, experiencing, and wishing.
Here’s how it works:
Student Editorial Board: We are building an editorial board of high school and college students who will help guide the process of accepting submissions (donations to support their work are welcome).
Take a Class: We are hosting month-long classes taught by seasoned journalists to guide students to “Think like a journalist;” their work will be published ($150/class).
Partners: Educational organizations (schools, community centers, and more) are welcome to join us and share their students’ work.
Sponsors: We are looking for sponsors to help support our mission, and in turn we eagerly promote their work. Meet our generous donors here.
JOIN US! Parents and Grandparents: If you want your child to Think Like a Reporter — Write or text with your thoughts and ideas! Here’s the keeping the world a beautiful place! — Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co., hope@hopegibbs.com / 703-346-6975 (cell)
Shay Jackson
“Nonviolence,” by high school sophomore Shay Jackson: Check out her award-winning “Living the Dream” essay
Nonviolence has been seen as a weak or passive approach to resolving conflicts. However, Cesar Chavez’s quote, “Nonviolence is not inaction. It is not a discussion. It is not for the timid or weak. Nonviolence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win, ” contradicts these views. This quote shows the demanding nature of nonviolence, highlighting courage, sacrifice, and perseverance. To fully understand and appreciate the quote, we must explore the meaning, understand the life of Ceasar Chavez, and explore the fight for nonviolence.
This quote shows that nonviolence is far from the weak or passive stereotype. Chavez states that nonviolence is not only about avoiding physical confrontations or endless conversations but instead, it’s also about engagement and willingness to tackle injustice face to face. Nonviolence requires courage and bravery beyond physical strength. It involves moral and emotional resilience. It consists of the willingness to endure suffering and the patience to persist in difficulty. Those who want to practice nonviolence should be prepared to work hard and exercise great patience. Patience plays a key role in practicing nonviolence. To maintain peace, you need to be patient and control negative feelings of hate and anger. It is not an approach for the weak but for those committed to pursuing justice and peace. Nonviolence is having to endure the efforts to bring change.
Cesar Chavez was a leader and a civil rights activist. He dedicated his life to improving the conditions for farm workers in the United States. Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chavez fought for better wages, safer working conditions, and for the rights of agricultural laborers. He fought through nonviolent means such as strikes and boycotts. He also led marches to draw attention to the plight of farm workers and to pressure employers and lawmakers to implement reforms. Chavez’s movement significantly changed the lives of many farm workers. He also inspired a broader movement for social justice and workers.
There have been many successful nonviolent movements throughout history. One of the most well-known was the Indian Independence Movement, led by the notable Mahatma Gandhi, another famous civil rights activist. The movement used nonviolent resistance to end British colonial rule in India. Another important movement was in the United States, with leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., who advocated for racial equality. They used peaceful protests and civil disobedience. Another nonviolent act was The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, where the Czechs used nonviolent protests to end Communist rule. These movements show the power nonviolence has. Nonviolence is a significant movement to change.
In summary, Chavez’s quote emphasizes the demanding nature, hard work, sacrifice, and patience for nonviolence. Nonviolence has been shown in several successful movements around the world throughout history — Gandhi and the end of British Colonial rule, Dr. King and his advocacy for racial equality, and the Czech Velvet Revolution for the end of Communist rule. Cesar used nonviolence to his advantage and succeeded in his goal. Together, all of these demonstrate the power nonviolence has to change the world.
About Shay Jackson: A high school sophomore, Shay was the second-place winner in the 2025 “Living the Dream” art, poetry, and essay competition.
The Changing DEI Landscape: The Challenge of Finding Steady Footing
Day after day, I’m bombarded with alarming headlines: “BREAKING NEWS!” Another tariff imposed. Another restriction announced. We’re still within the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, and already, everything feels bleak.
As a first-generation American and a young woman aspiring to study healthcare, the future I had once envisioned now feels uncertain. I had dreamed of conducting research as an undergraduate, but recent funding cuts have made those opportunities more limited. I had hoped to work with government health organizations like the NIH or CDC—institutions I once saw as beacons of public service, but they are now facing political constraints and shifting leadership under figures like RFK Jr.
Rules and protections that once stood to safeguard people are being dismantled. It’s frightening. Even here at Penn, where women slightly outnumber men, I still notice gender imbalances—in classes, clubs, and especially in leadership roles within fields like engineering and finance. There are still too few women in the room.
The national debate around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) only adds to the tension. Americans are deeply divided on DEI Programs—some think that DEI prioritizes race or gender above merit and skill; others say it is necessary for unity and inclusivity.
While some DEI efforts are sparking outrage, I don’t think completely removing them is the solution. When done correctly, it can make a huge difference for people to help those from diverse backgrounds feel safe. It can boost productivity by strengthening worker retention and making employees feel comfortable enough to reach their potential. DEI is still relatively new, so the policies aren’t perfect and need much more work to develop, but they are a step in the right direction. Deeply rooted systemic inequalities have caused the gap between different groups to widen, and this is an effort to try to close that gap.
DEI is a complex topic with many nuances to consider. The intersectionality of my identities puts me at an advantage and disadvantage when it comes to DEI. On the one hand, I am a first-generation citizen, a child of immigrants, a person of color, and a female-identifying person. On the other hand, I am a model minority, come from a stable socioeconomic background, and have been educated at elite institutions.
While some DEI efforts have sparked outrage, I don’t believe eliminating them entirely is the answer. When implemented thoughtfully, DEI can make a real difference. It helps people from diverse backgrounds feel seen, safe, and supported. It can also improve outcomes—when people feel like they belong, they’re more likely to stay, contribute, and reach their full potential.
DEI is still a relatively new and evolving field. The policies aren’t perfect and need refining, but they represent a step in the right direction. Deeply rooted systemic inequalities have widened the gap between different communities. DEI is one attempt to close that gap.
It’s a complicated issue, especially for someone like me. The intersectionality of my identity places me both at an advantage and a disadvantage. I am a first-generation American, a child of immigrants, and a woman of color. But I also benefit from the privileges of being a so-called “model minority.” I come from a stable socioeconomic background and have been educated at elite institutions.
When I was applying to college, I struggled with the concept of Affirmative Action. The policy was overturned the summer I began my applications—a decision that was supposed to benefit people like me.
I remember being told to “hide” my race on applications if I could and not checking “East Asian” if it wasn’t required. But with a common Chinese last name, that wasn’t exactly an option. Some students began checking “Mixed” or “Pacific Islander” to distinguish themselves from the stereotype of the “high-achieving but robotic” Asian student.
Asian Americans occupy a complex space in conversations about race and equity. Many are first-generation college students, children of immigrants, and come from working-class families—yet they are often expected to excel academically. I knew so many kids growing up who would spend their afternoons helping out at the family restaurant before starting their homework late into the night.
I’ve been lucky. My parents have always supported me, and I’ve had access to resources that have helped me succeed. But my path hasn’t been without struggle. My parents didn’t know how the college admissions process worked. They only began to understand it through friends and neighbors. In elementary school, I was translating mail and writing emails for them. When I was learning the alphabet in preschool, my mom was learning it too—sitting beside me, sounding out the letters.
So why is it that so many Asian American children excel in school despite starting from behind? Because, for many immigrant families, education is everything. It’s seen as the one path to stability, to success, to belonging. But that emphasis on achievement can come with a cost. Asian Americans are often held to impossibly high standards and reduced to stereotypes of being hardworking, quiet, and academically robotic. These assumptions flatten our experiences and erase the struggles that many Asian American families face—like language barriers, financial pressure, or a lack of institutional support.
This complexity is why DEI efforts are so necessary, yet so often misunderstood. Even for communities that appear successful on paper, like Asian Americans, there are unique challenges that policies must account for. And for others—whether they are women entering male-dominated industries or students from lower-income backgrounds—the barriers may look different, but they are no less real.
Even those who benefit from DEI policies may feel conflicted. There’s a growing discomfort among students and professionals who are made to feel like they’ve only earned a position because of their identity—not their qualifications. The term “DEI hire” can be used dismissively, as if someone’s background negates their effort or ability. That kind of backlash can discourage people from even pursuing the opportunities that were created to help level the playing field.
As someone who holds many privileges, I constantly remind myself that what we call “merit” is often just a reflection of opportunity. Not everyone has the freedom to dedicate hours to studying. Some have to work jobs, care for siblings, or navigate systems their families don’t understand. DEI isn’t about giving people a shortcut; it’s about recognizing the obstacles in their path and making it possible for them to compete on equal footing.
About Erin: I just finished by freshman year studying healthcare policy at the University of Pennsylvania, where I’ve been inspired to dig deeper into the complexities of our healthcare system. I’ve always believed that access to quality care is a basic human right, and my studies help me understand the legislative, economic, and social factors that affect who gets that care and why. By immersing myself in research, collaborating with peers, and staying engaged in campus forums, I hope to uncover and champion solutions that make healthcare more equitable for all. Being part of the Empowered Together Network reinforces my sense of purpose and shows me the power of a collective vision. When people come together to share ideas and advocate for change, we create a force for good that’s greater than the sum of our individual efforts. It’s empowering to know that my voice matters and that my work can contribute to a larger movement committed to improving lives around the world. Through collaboration, empathy, and a drive to serve, I aim to shape policies that will make a lasting, positive impact on communities everywhere.
Nonviolence has been seen as a weak or passive approach to resolving conflicts. However, Cesar Chavez’s quote, “Nonviolence is not inaction. It is not a discussion. It is not for the timid or weak. Nonviolence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win, ” contradicts these views. This quote shows the demanding nature of nonviolence, highlighting courage, sacrifice, and perseverance. To fully understand and appreciate the quote, we must explore the meaning, understand the life of Ceasar Chavez, and explore the fight for nonviolence.
This quote shows that nonviolence is far from the weak or passive stereotype. Chavez states that nonviolence is not only about avoiding physical confrontations or endless conversations but instead, it’s also about engagement and willingness to tackle injustice face to face. Nonviolence requires courage and bravery beyond physical strength. It involves moral and emotional resilience. It consists of the willingness to endure suffering and the patience to persist in difficulty. Those who want to practice nonviolence should be prepared to work hard and exercise great patience. Patience plays a key role in practicing nonviolence. To maintain peace, you need to be patient and control negative feelings of hate and anger. It is not an approach for the weak but for those committed to pursuing justice and peace. Nonviolence is having to endure the efforts to bring change.
Cesar Chavez was a leader and a civil rights activist. He dedicated his life to improving the conditions for farm workers in the United States. Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chavez fought for better wages, safer working conditions, and for the rights of agricultural laborers. He fought through nonviolent means such as strikes and boycotts. He also led marches to draw attention to the plight of farm workers and to pressure employers and lawmakers to implement reforms. Chavez’s movement significantly changed the lives of many farm workers. He also inspired a broader movement for social justice and workers.
There have been many successful nonviolent movements throughout history. One of the most well-known was the Indian Independence Movement, led by the notable Mahatma Gandhi, another famous civil rights activist. The movement used nonviolent resistance to end British colonial rule in India. Another important movement was in the United States, with leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., who advocated for racial equality. They used peaceful protests and civil disobedience. Another nonviolent act was The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, where the Czechs used nonviolent protests to end Communist rule. These movements show the power nonviolence has. Nonviolence is a significant movement to change.
In summary, Chavez’s quote emphasizes the demanding nature, hard work, sacrifice, and patience for nonviolence. Nonviolence has been shown in several successful movements around the world throughout history — Gandhi and the end of British Colonial rule, Dr. King and his advocacy for racial equality, and the Czech Velvet Revolution for the end of Communist rule. Cesar used nonviolence to his advantage and succeeded in his goal. Together, all of these demonstrate the power nonviolence has to change the world.
About Shay Jackson: A high school sophomore, Shay was the second-place winner in the 2025 “Living the Dream” art, poetry, and essay competition.
About Dr. Peter Noonan: After an extensive, nationwide search, the Falls Church City School Board selected Dr. Peter Noonan as the ninth Superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools in May 2017. Dr. Noonan began his career as a special education teacher in New Mexico, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1993. After working for 11 years in the Fairfax County Public Schools division, he served as Superintendent for Fairfax City Public Schools.
Peter was also the assistant principal at Langley High School, principal at Lanier Middle School and Centreville High School, and assistant superintendent for Cluster VII schools. And, he was the assistant superintendent for the Instructional Services Department, overseeing academic programs for the system’s 180,000 students. Dr. Noonan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico, and completed studies to obtain the education specialist designation in educational administration. Dr. Noonan has a doctorate in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
“Never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better, even if you never know it.” — Greg Louganis
When I arrived in 2017 to serve Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) as the 9th Superintendent in the division’s history, I knew something about this place was different than anywhere else I had ever worked. This is my 33rd year in public education (8th year as Superintendent in FCCPS) which has afforded me the opportunity to teach, lead, learn, and travel the globe. I’ve been in over 1000 schools in my career and worked with, or for, nearly 400,000 students. In my journey through public service I have found one truth to be universal: It is the people in any organization that make a place great. FCCPS is no different and when asked to consider what the “secret sauce” is that leads to the extraordinary outcomes for kids, it is immediately evident that it is the people and the relational culture that exists that makes us great.
A relational culture is nuanced and sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference. This is not a new concept but it is one worth repeating and bringing focus to in the workplace. In The Leadership Challenge, by Kouzes and Posner, they refer to gestures made by others as “encouraging the heart.” Encouraging the heart is one of five (5) leadership practices that have been validated over the past decades as those that impact the culture and performance of an organization…including schools. The other four are “challenging the process,” encouraging others to act,” “inspiring a shared vision,” and “modeling the way.”
The following vignettes, while simple, are the building blocks that when taken in sum total make FCCPS special.
Rory
At the end of last year, one of our longtime teachers and leaders decided to make a change and move to another division in Virginia. FCCPS is a small division and consequently, one that can sometimes limit the opportunities for people to grow as there are limited numbers of positions that carry administrative roles. This leader, Rory, was a person who had grown “through the ranks” as an assistant principal and curriculum leader at our middle and high school. Through our years together we built a strong working relationship. I was fortunate to be the leader who promoted him to his first assistant principal (AP) position and also supported and coached him in his decision to step down from the AP role and lead from a different place that was in his “wheelhouse”…a position that would bring him great joy as the International Baccalaureate Coordinator for the Middle Years Program. The circumstances surrounding his move were also important to the decision-making process for this leader and because of the relationship we enjoyed, I knew he was becoming a dad for the first time.
When Rory left FCCPS, we tried diligently to find time to engage in an exit interview in an effort for both of us to improve on behalf of FCCPS, but given the timing of his departure, we could never make it happen. However, on the day he left, Rory did something that encouraged my heart in a way he is unlikely to know. He wrote a handwritten card and left it on my desk! It is an understatement to say that we are living in times where a handwritten note is a dying art. With email, text, Snapchat, Instagram, etc…at our fingertips, we can quickly communicate important information in the least personal way possible. Heck, I even got a happy birthday text from one of my own kids once…c’mon…pick up the phone at least – but I digress. The time taken to write out a card and leave it on my desk was disproportionately impactful relative to the impact it had on me for the months to come. Rory has no idea the power and impact the note had and, as Greg Louganis says, “Never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better – even if you never know it.” He made my life better and I am not certain he knows it, which, in my opinion, is a shortcoming on my end of the relationship.
The IB
As educators, we work every day to have that impact. Further, in almost every case, when a student walks across the stage at graduation, we celebrate the end of one journey and the start of another…and we don’t hear from the graduates of that class again. But, in Falls Church, that is different.
Each year, we have an opportunity to welcome back our students who completed and earned the International Baccalaureate Programme diploma to receive their diplomas since their final IB exams from the spring prior aren’t adjudicated in time for graduation. We do this during a holiday break for most of the colleges, and a great majority of the students return to collect their diplomas and see friends and teachers. It is a great site.
At the same time, we ask a group of students to join in on a panel discussion about their experiences as students in college. To a student, we hear that the IB program made their freshman year a breeze because their Freshman year in college is writing intensive, and the IB is heavily focused on writing. There are a host of questions we ask to get at information that will help the students in the auditorium decide on going forward with the IB diploma program or seeking another path. Among the questions we ask is, “Who was your most influential teacher and why?” When this question is asked, the students’ eyes light up; they are anxious to say who it is, and in the end, this question elicits magic. While that is exciting, the amazing part is the range of those identified as most influential. Each year, we have had answers such as “my kindergarten teacher,” “my coach,” “my bus driver,” the Director of Food Services,” and more. A couple of years ago, the baseball team nominated one of our bus drivers as the Support Employee of the Year – our kids see everyone. When pressed about why they’ve named the person they have, the answer is always the same… they were kind to me, they helped me, we got along well, they came to my events to see me, or we just had a great relationship, and they made me feel important.
This exercise each year is a heart filler indeed! But the real magic is when the adult hears their name emerge from one of the returning students. The pride, excitement, and emotion of that moment is palpable.
Kindness
My first day on the job as the Superintendent of Schools in FCCPS, I was tasked (among other things) with restarting a stalled construction project at Mount Daniel Elementary School. The plans were done to do some serious demolition and add on more classrooms, a gym, and give a “facelift” to the rest of the older sections of the building. However, there were conflicts between the contractor, the permitting offices, the schools, and the general government. The situation was untenable because the “phasing” of the project had begun which meant that the entire parking lot at MDES had been converted into a village of portable classrooms which meant that no staff could park onsite. The solution was that all staff would be shuttled from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School throughout the morning and the afternoon. To say that this was less than ideal is an understatement! Staff and faculty at MDES were unhappy with their shuttling circumstances, but like the professionals they are, they adjusted.
I decided that my first stop, on my first day, would be at MEHMS to meet the shuttle and ride with the staff to Mount Daniel. I thought…if they are living it I should too. Now, I’ve been a school administrator for a long time and learned early that one does not show up empty-handed if your intention is to make a good impression. So, I went to Costco and bought the biggest box of Kind Bars I could find. As the staff and faculty got onto the shuttle, I introduced myself and gave each person a kind bar as a gesture of appreciation and also to send a message to everyone who got on the bus that not only was I a kind person, but I also expected this above all else from FCCPS employees.
I tell this bit of the story not to somehow glorify myself or my leadership – it was $50 well spent! Rather, I share the story as a reminder that what is given in kindness often comes back when you least expect it. As I mentioned, I am in my eighth year of my superintendency in FCCPS and there is hardly a month that goes by that someone doesn’t drop off a Kind Bar to me. It’s the small things and simplest gestures that make the difference and matter the most. I am drawn in by kindness and the way it manifests itself in FCCPS.
“The Secret Sauce”
In the end, I believe that the “secret sauce” in FCCPS is the people, their engagement with each other, the relationships that are built, how we work together to support each other and every student we serve, and in the end make each other’s lives richer and more fulfilled. I was once asked the question: “Can you teach someone how to have a good relationship with their student or another person they work with?” I think the answer is no…kindness, care, compassion, empathy, and strong relationships come from the heart and not the head. However, one can engage in the elements that create the conditions for a positive relationship like writing handwritten notes, letting people know their meaning to you before it is too late, and, when all else fails, feed them – even if it’s a Kind Bar.
A simple question that is often asked is one of the most difficult and puzzling for me. What’s your hometown (a different version of this is: where did you grow up)? Hmm, that’s a good question. How should I answer that? I used to hesitate before answering. It took many, many years, meaning decades, before I settled on a pat answer that never explained very much. I would answer by saying that my father was in the military so we moved a lot.
For years I adopted my father’s hometown and home state as mine. There was good reason for this. After sailing from Japan to the United States in 1959, we drove cross country and spent the summer in Ohio, my father’s home state. Soon, we were off and living in South Carolina. Mid way through second grade, my father was headed to South Korea for a year being posted along the demilitarized zone. While he was away, I returned to Ohio.
After my father’s year in South Korea ended, he was posted to Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Rather than interrupt another school year, I finished the school year in Ohio in May 1963 before moving to Kentucky. Arriving on this massive army post, little did I know that this would be a time of “normalcy”. We lived on post. Ft. Knox had elementary schools, middle schools and a high school. It offered sports for the kids, pools and everything any other community has for families.
As a kid, it was an interesting place because this was the U.S. Army’s home of armor—tanks. Driving around parts of Ft. Knox meant seeing tanks rolling down the road. For people familiar with a shooting range, just imagine living near a tank range. Yes, tankers had to improve their aim just like someone shooting a pistol or rifle. The only problem was that living near a tank range is like living through earthquakes as those shells shook everything upon impact.
Ft. Knox felt like a hometown for a while. It’s late afternoon in August. It’s 1964. I’m splashing around with my two much younger brothers. We’re in one of those water filled vinyl or plastic swimming pools, but it isn’t really a pool. It’s something that holds water because it’s only 12 to 15 inches deep and maybe ten feet in diameter. The lining is secured around the metal frame. It’s on the back patio, providing a nice flat surface.
There are no water slides, no rock-climbing walls, no putt-putt golf and not even a pool. The amenities found on today’s massive cruise ships for thousands of people on vacation were completely absent. Movies, yes, movies were offered, but not in the staterooms because there were no televisions in the staterooms.
A movie is scheduled for the evening. It will be shown outside, but not at a drive-in theater. We’ll find a spot up on deck of a ship that is ferrying military families from Japan to Seattle, Washington. When the time comes, the crew members project the movie onto some large white sheet (an extra-large version of a bed sheet) high enough for everyone to see. The wind causes the sheet to snap back and forth like a sail with the rhythm of the ship dancing on the water.
After two weeks and thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean, we still have thousands of miles to travel. By car, we begin the journey cross-country. Too young to know where we are and having just arrived in the United States, we spend a night sleeping in the car as it is parked inside of a garage because the car needs repair. This was in the “old” days. It’s May 1959 and everything is an adventure.
Born abroad and living abroad surrounded by people who spoke a different language, English was the foreign language to my ears. As a family, we’re nomadic. We move a lot because of my father’s “job”. He’s a career soldier. The children of career military members are usually referred to as army “brats, or navy “brats”, etc. It’s not an insult. We’re a subset of people in the population.
Every place we live is temporary. Every school we attend is temporary and that means that we have friends for short periods of time. In our environment, our friends drop into the neighborhood and school from different places. It’s possible that the new kid arriving mid-semester on a Wednesday might’ve just come from Germany or Japan or Italy. It’s also possible that they just moved from Texas, California, Missouri, Kentucky or one of the Carolinas.
Growing up military from the 1950s to the very early 1970s, living on a military installation meant we were immersed in a world of diverse people. The word diversity wasn’t used back then and yet our world was as diverse as any could get. This was still the post-World War II and the Korean War period. Because of where so many soldiers were posted around the world, our army neighborhood had moms who were German, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Latino and other nationalities and we heard these various languages spoken. Adding to the diversity of mothers were the soldiers themselves: white, black, Asian, Latino. The mixing bowl effect was evident in the children who roamed the school corridors or played in the neighborhood.
(Underscoring the mixing bowl effect, I had the pleasure at a business dinner of meeting two other army brats in the early 2000s. The three of us reflected this strange brat community as we realized that the three of us had Japanese mothers, but our fathers were white, black and Latino.)
As time goes by, what becomes clear is that what happens thousands of miles away in another country can have a direct impact on a military family. Soldiers, sailors and airmen may be needed somewhere and in the “old” days of the 1960s, that meant any prolonged transfer of a father meant packing up and moving while he was deployed. Upon his return, there was no guarantee of returning to the military installation where we were posted previously.
The military brat life was one that provided periods of being a “normal” kid and periods when there is constant worry about things that occur half a world away that will cause another move, disruption and restarting. For some of us, it makes us want to understand the world better, see more of the world and wonder if there’s any way to engage the world to touch others and improve the world.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in this essay series.
Author and Attorney Timothy Trainer in Washington, DC www.TimothyTrainer.com. Photo by AnnaGibbs.com
About the Timothy Trainer: Writing books is a passion for attorney Timothy Trainer, who for more than three decades focused on intellectual property issues in his day job. He has worked in government agencies and in the private sector and his assignments have taken him to 60 countries around the world.
Fiction was a genre he always wanted to try. In 2019, Pendulum Over the Pacific, was released by Joshua Tree Publishing. “This political intrigue story is set in Tokyo and Washington, D.C., and centers on trade tensions between the U.S. and Japan in the late 1980s,” Tim explains.
The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association is dedicated to honoring the suffragists who fought for and won the right of women to vote. Its vision is to raise awareness and funds to create a memorial that will reflect the strength of these women and the significance of their struggle. In partnership with NOVA Parks, the memorial will be located in Fairfax County, VA, near the spot where women were imprisoned.
And its goal is to raise funds to complete construction and have the national memorial fully operational by 2020, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which recognized woman’s right to vote.
If Executive Director Pat Wirth, former chairwoman Jane Barker, and a slew of activists have their way, the garden-style national memorial will be grand. It will commemorate the suffrage struggle by educating, inspiring, and empowering present and future generations to remain vigilant in the quest for equal rights.
In this issue of Grateful American™ Magazine, we interview Pat Wirth and historian Edie Mayo, who share insights into this fascinating topic and important project.
Hope Katz Gibbs: Pat, tell us how the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association came to be.
Pat Wirth: In 2007, the manager at the Occoquan Regional Park approached the League of Women Voters in Fairfax, VA, to explore the idea of building a memorial to the suffragists in his park — part of the historic DC Prison grounds where scores of suffragists were jailed for silently picketing the White House in 1917. A committee of women began meeting under Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority’s nonprofit foundation to explore and expand on the concept. (They changed their name to NOVA Parks earlier this year.)
In 2011, the women, at the recommendation of attorney members, formed a 501c(3), the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association. Robert Beach, an award-winning architect, donated the design. The group has an Interpretation and Design Committee that has been researching the historical information that will tell the entire 72-year history of the suffrage movement. The memorial will have 19 stations because it was the 19th Amendment that gave women the vote!
David Bruce Smith: Pat, how did your involvement begin?
Pat Wirth: In 2012, I became a member of the association when I saw an exhibit about the organization at a fall arts festival in the tiny town of Occoquan across from the park. Jane Barker, the founder of the organization, is a friend of mine who encouraged me to attend a fundraising dinner and then some meetings. Turning Point hired me as its executive director on May 1, 2015.
Hope Katz Gibbs: Edie — Take us back to the mid-1800s when the suffragist movement began, and give us a brief history.
Edie Mayo: In the mid-1800s, women were subjected to many legal disabilities, which had come down through English common law. If married, women even lacked their own individual legal identities, which were subsumed in their husband’s identities. Women lacked property rights, rights to their own wages, even rights to their own children — and they did not have the most basic right of citizenship — the right to vote.
Many women were involved in the anti-slavery movement, which awakened them to their own lack of rights as women. They began to organize to change their legal status. After the Civil War, two groups emerged to work for women’s right to vote: The American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe, which had a moderate agenda to achieve voting rights state by state; and the National Woman Suffrage Association, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, which was more militant about achieving other legal rights for women and advocated a Constitutional amendment to gain women the right to vote.
David Bruce Smith: Then, in 1890, the two groups merged to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chapman Catt.
Edie Mayo: That’s right. In the nineteen-teens, Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Harriot Stanton Blatch (daughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton) returned from England, where they had been active in the British suffrage movement. They brought new tactics — such as open-air meetings, marches, and parades — in addition to aggressive lobbying, which they applied to the American movement. In 1916, these women formed the National Woman’s Party. With the larger, more moderate NAWSA pushing from one side, and the more militant Woman’s Party pushing from the other, these groups forced President Woodrow Wilson and Congress to deal with the issue of women voting as a serious national issue.
David Bruce Smith: Edie — Tell us what has happened in the years since and why this project is so important.
Edie Mayo: This rich history — which involves more than half the citizens of this nation — is virtually unknown. I like to call it “the best-kept secret in American history.” The history of women’s suffrage rarely receives more than a short paragraph in general history texts, and you would have to major in women’s history in college to really learn about this important part of our nation’s past.
Hope Katz Gibbs: Pat — You are trying to raise funds to make this memorial come to fruition. How is it going?
Pat Wirth: We have a dual challenge raising funds. Most Americans know very little about the suffrage movement because it was omitted from our history texts. The mostly male textbook authors failed to recognize the 72-year fight women fought to win the vote and abridged the challenge to the Progressive Era, 1890 to 1920, when, in fact, the movement began in Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848.
Thousands of women from every state, race, creed, and nationality fought for 72 years to win the vote. So, our number-one challenge has been to educate the public about this missing piece of history — it’s difficult to ask folks for donations for something they know nothing about!
The second challenge is that we are not eligible for any government funding, and most foundations will not donate to a capital campaign. This will be a national memorial, and we have spent considerable time this year expanding our reach nationally to get the word out about the memorial through national women’s organizations. It takes a lot of time to build relationships.
David Bruce Smith: Pat — If for some reason you don’t meet your funding goals, what will become of the Association?
Pat Wirth: The Association will build a memorial with whatever funds it has collected; it may be a scaled-down version of the design if necessary. We have been assured by NOVA Parks that there will be a national memorial commemorating all the suffragists and the entire suffragist movement in the park.
Hope Katz Gibbs: Pat — You have an amazing background in business — having spent decades in the auto industry, which has traditionally been a man’s world. You know from firsthand experience that it’s not easy to be a strong woman in a male-dominated environment and can surely relate to the plight of the suffragists. From your point of view, how do you think women should respond in the face of a challenge? And, do you see younger women — aka: the Millennials — standing up to this challenge?
Pat Wirth: As I mentioned earlier, we have the difficult task of educating everyone about this missing piece of American history, including the Millennials. Suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton actually likened women to slaves because of their limited role in society in the mid-19th century — if they married, their property went to their husbands; their children belonged to the husband; if they worked, their wages belonged to the husband; they could not belong to the professions and so could not become doctors or lawyers.
In the many presentations I give about the memorial to others, all are shocked to learn the truth about the treatment of women prior to winning the vote. Businesswomen now understand that without the vote they would not be in business! One of the shocking facts I like to share with my audience is that numerous state constitutions stated that “Idiots, lunatics, paupers, felons, and women shall not be entitled to vote.” That really gets their attention!
David Bruce Smith: Edie — I’d like to ask you the same question but from a historical point of view.
Edie Mayo: I think women should open their pocketbooks and make certain that this memorial is built! But it has been an uphill battle. People contribute to causes they know and care about. Few Millennials know anything about this chapter in American history, so our first job is to educate and get them fired up about this cause.
Hope Katz Gibbs: Edie — In fact, there’s an amazing exhibit about the history of bicycles at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, where you work. Tell us about how the bike has freed women, and why it’s important for us to know where we’ve been?
Edie Mayo: If you don’t know where you’ve been, it’s hard to know where you are going. Frances Willard, leader of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and the most widely known and popular woman of the late 19th century, wrote a wonderful little book entitled, “How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle” (which she did later in life), in which she compared learning to ride a bicycle with learning to become independent and self-sufficient as a woman.
First, you have to learn to balance yourself, then to ride a moderate amount, and finally to set off on your own journey. She told women that this journey was not without risk — you might fall off the bicycle or you might not know which way to go at first. In the end, however, you get back up, set a course, and lead an independent and rewarding life.
David Bruce Smith: Pat — What’s your ultimate goal for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association?
Pat Wirth: The ultimate goal is to see the full history of the suffrage movement come to light for all Americans. Women would not be where they are today if they had not won the vote. In addition, present and future generations must remain vigilant in the quest for equal rights. We intend to provide programs through our Turning Point Institute that will include topics such as leadership, public speaking, political candidacy, social awareness and responsibility, civil rights, fiscal acumen, etc.
Hope Katz Gibbs: Pat — The last question goes to you. As we mentioned earlier, you are an advocate for women’s rights. If you were queen for a day, what would the world look like for women in 10 years?
Pat Wirth: While women are slowly climbing the business ladder to greater success and occasionally cracking the glass ceiling, that is not happening in all levels of government. Today approximately 20 percent of all elected officials in local, state, and federal positions are women. That has to change so that women’s perspective in making our laws is equal to that of men. I believe this will lead to expanded equality for all.
For more information about the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, visit suffragistmemorial.org.
American poet, musician, and composer Michael Franti and his band Spearhead have been rocking their message of peace, love, and social justice since 1994.
Blending funk reggae, jazz, folk, and rock, their album is “All People.” Their high-energy shows, which they perform around the country, get the audience jumping, singing, and dancing.
Often the band is part of ensemble shows, including their performance on Dec. 14 at the 25th annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam in Ashville, NC. We were privileged to meet Franti and interview him at his hotel just before the concert.
Be Inkandescent: Let’s start off talking about your Do It For The Love Foundation. What inspired you and co-founder Sara Agah to create this nonprofit organization?
Michael Franti: My better half, Sara, is an emergency room nurse, and for the last couple of years we have been trying to figure out a way to combine what she does in healthcare with my music. Our Do It For The Love Foundation brings people to live concerts who are in an advanced stage of a life-threatening illness, as well as kids with severe challenges and veterans.
It’s the perfect fit because I’ve been making music and touring for 27 years, and over the years, I have had a lot of people tell me they know someone who is dying and would love to meet me. I’ve been in Iraq to play music on the streets for both Iraqi civilians as well as soldiers. I have played in Walter Reed Hospital and I have met a lot of veterans along the way, and a lot of families who have kids with special needs. We started the Foundation in August 2013 and it has really taken off. We started out assuming just the two of us could do it all ourselves, and now it has grown so large we have one full-time worker and are about to hire a second one.
The best part of my work with the Foundation is meeting people. Just last night I met a young woman who has lymphoma and has had a difficult life. Although she is an honors student, her disease has worsened to the point where she has had to stop going to school. A friend of hers got in touch with us and they all flew down to our show as a surprise to her. When I sat and talked with her, she told me she has lived with pain her whole life, and it is just getting worse and worse. She says she doesn’t have much time to live, but that she is worried about the world, and that if she could take away everyone’s pain even just for 15 minutes, she would take it on herself.
I was so moved by hearing this 20-year-old woman say that, and by meeting her younger brother and his friend who were both 17 and who had pulled off this whole plan to get her here through our Foundation.
Be Inkandescent: That’s a big theme for you, too, the idea of taking on the world’s problems as your own and trying to come up with solutions. What inspired you to have that as your mission?
Michael Franti: When I was a born, my birth mother carried me for nine months and then she held me for one hour and gave me up for adoption. I was adopted by the Franti family. They are Finnish-Americans, second generation in this country. They had three kids of their own, and they adopted me and another African-American son, and I grew up in this very mixed household.
My mother was a public school teacher in California for 30 years, and she was very much a leader in our house. She insisted that even though we were all very different—different heights, different colors, different views on the world—she would treat all of us the same, and we would all have the same opportunities to succeed. I really learned that ethic from her, and I believe it’s the same for the whole world. We all should share the same rights and should be given the same opportunities to succeed. We see places where this is not happening, and it takes the efforts of the rest of us to try and give a boost to people who need it. You see it whether it’s war, poverty, or because of climate changes affecting people around the world.
For example, I was in Southeast Asia visiting with a family in East Timore who was raising ducks instead of chickens. I asked why they had switched to ducks, and they said, “We used to have this long rainy season where the rain came slowly, but now the season is shorter and drier, and when the rain comes, everything floods. Ducks swim.” So these are the things I write about and try to work on as much as I can.
Be Inkandescent: Tell us more about the work you do traveling around the world to promote your message of love and social justice.
Michael Franti: I’ve had the opportunity to play for people in so many different countries and under so many circumstances. We have played in prisons, schools, on the street … we play all over the world. But I’ve found that it doesn’t matter where you play, it doesn’t matter what economic sphere people are in or what education, culture, language, or religion … people are the same when the music starts. You look in their eyes and see smiles, people start to dance, they start to move, eventually people laugh, they cry, they hug their friends. Music really is a universal language. One of my favorite things to do is to travel and play with people of other cultures and other musical experiences that I didn’t know about.
Before I was traveling as a musician, I worked as a doorman in a nightclub, and I was a bike messenger for three years. When I was a bike messenger, I would deliver checks to people for hundreds of thousands of dollars and deliver architectural plans for buildings that were worth millions of dollars … and no one ever clapped! They barely said thank you, it was usually just “sign here,” and that was it. Now I really get to make people happy. It’s fun.
Be Inkandescent: How did you hook up with Warren Haynes to play at his 25th Annual Christmas Jam in 2013?
Michael Franti: I met Warren 10 or 12 years ago at a festival we were both playing at. Warren is one of the nicest people I know; he’s really a kindhearted person. One of the beneficiaries of this Christmas Jam is Conscience Alliance, which is a food bank; they collect food all over the country and distribute it to people in need. He’s also a giver with music.
For this festival, Warren brings in individuals from nearly 70 different bands, and then he creates collaborations based on his intuition. The first one we did was about four years ago. Warren came backstage and said, “Michael, you got a minute? There’s this guy who wants to sit in with you.” I said, “Who?” He goes, “John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. Do you mind doing a song with him?”
My mouth hit the floor. Through nearly tears I responded, “Of course I’ll do a song with him!” He walks into the room and takes out his mandolin and starts playing this song with us. We were so blown away and happy. We played a whole bunch of songs, and finally we had done a whole set of probably 12 songs backstage. Right before we were walking on-stage, I said, “John, is there a song you wanted to play on?” and he said, “Well, Michael, I thought I’d play mandolin on the first four, then I’d play bass on the next five, then drums on the last three,” and I just said, “All right, Dude, let’s do it!” and he ended up playing the whole set with us!
That’s the kind of magic that happens here.
Be Inkandescent: Greg Allman, Government Mule, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals … it’s really cool! We are all so excited to be here and watch all of you play. So, tell us a little bit more about your career. You started Spearhead in ’94, and that was your third band?
Michael Franti: Yes. My first band was a little punk rock band called the Beatings in 1986 through 1988. Then in 1989 and ’90 I had a band called Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. We had a video and a song called “Television, The Drug of the Nation,” which became somewhat of a minor-league hit internationally. It didn’t really do much here, but U2 heard the song and loved the video, so they used the video to open up their Zoo TV tour in 1992, and then they invited us to become the opening act.
I remember after the show we played at Yankee Stadium, at the time the Pope, Nelson Mandela, and Billy Joel were the only people who had done a performance there apart from U2. After the show I joked with Bono. I said, “You know, the Pope played here, and Nelson Mandela and Billy Joel, and then we played here, and then you guys played. We played here before you.”
Be Inkandescent: Did you ever think when you were a little kid that you would be doing this?
Michael Franti: It really was not an ambition of mine. Throughout my childhood, all I wanted to do was be a basketball player, and I eventually played basketball at the University of San Francisco. My dorm room was right above the campus radio station, so I’d hear these bass lines coming up through the floor all of the time and at first, it was kind of annoying. And then I started getting the thrill of music, hearing all of these different styles of music coming out of the campus radio station. For two hours it would be hip-hop; for two hours it would be punk rock; for two hours it would be jazz; whatever it was, and then at 6 a.m. they would switch to a Chinese news program and they would only play Chinese music for a little while.
It was a great musical education. So I bought a bass and I would just copy the bass lines that I heard coming up through the floor, and that was sort of my initiation into music. But mainly I was writing lyrics. I would write poems, and then I started performing these poems with other artists and it was not until many years later when I actually started to play guitar. The mixture of the melody and the chords and the portability of just being able to go out onto the street or beach, wherever, and just sit there and play; that’s what I love about it.
Be Inkandescent: What’s your favorite song that you have written?
Michael Franti: There are many. On this new record I really like the song “Life Is Better With You” that I wrote for Sara. There is a song called “11:59” that will be our next single. The first single, “I Am Alive,” I really love, too. Many people ask me whether or not I have a favorite song, and the answer is usually the song I am playing right then or whatever song I have just written.
Be Inkandescent: Do have a new record coming out?
Michael Franti: We should have one probably by the end of next year. We never really stop writing. When we are on tour, we always carry a tiny little portable recording rig, and any time we have ideas we just put the ideas down on little recordings and then we go back later and pull out the best artifacts that we can find and try to put them in more concise songs from just random ideas.
Sometimes I come up with a title in the beginning and it then influences what I write about. The last record we put out before “All People” was called, “Sound of Sunshine.” My appendix had ruptured on tour four years ago and I came really close to dying. Every day I was in the hospital, I was so grateful to be alive that I would lean on the window and just feel the sun on my face, and think, “Wow. If I never felt this way again, I would feel such loss.” And then to see my two sons there, and all my friends. … I was just so grateful to be alive.
I then started writing this song about the sun—what the sun feels like, what it sounds like, what it tastes like. So I came up with the title, “The Sound of Sunshine.” Then all the titles on the record followed that theme.
Be Inkandescent: Who are some of your musical influences?
Michael Franti: Musically, I love artists who write songs about their concern for the planet and write songs about how much they love their girlfriend. For example: Bob Marley, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Johnny Cash. John Lennon wrote “Imagine,” this Utopian view of what the world could be. And then he would write a song like “Beautiful Boy” or “Woman,” and that always made me feel like he doesn’t just care about the world because it is in his head; he’s concerned because it is in his heart. He wants to see his child grow up in a better place. That always moves me.
Be Inkandescent: Switching gears a little bit, tell us why you don’t wear shoes.
Michael Franti: I stopped wearing shoes on my birthday in April of 2000. I had been traveling to a lot of countries where people couldn’t afford to wear shoes, so I would take off my shoes and go play soccer with the kids and I couldn’t even take three steps. There would be these gravely fields and I just couldn’t do it. So I went home and I wondered what it would be like to never be able to afford shoes. So I took off my shoes, and decided I would go barefoot for three days.
I went three days, and my feet didn’t get any tougher. So I went for a week, then a month, then a year, and finally after 10 years of being barefoot, I partnered with an organization called Soles4Souls. They bring shoes to people all around the world who can’t afford them. They started after Hurricane Katrina, and moved onto Haiti, and now they are in about 60 different countries. (See the May 2013 Be Inkandescent feature on Soles4Souls) We work with them at our concerts collecting shoes from our fans as well as just getting the word out about the work that they do.
Be Inkandescent: Can you give our readers tips on three topics: one on business in general; one on getting into the music business; and a last tip on making a difference?
Michael Franti: Definitely.
In terms of business: To be a musician for 27 years requires an incredible team. The first thing I would say is learn how to collaborate and to delegate responsibilities to people who are better at it than you. At the same time, it also helps you to know every job. It is good to have some diversity so that if one thing goes awry, the other could work out. I also have a yoga hotel in Bali called Soulshine Bali. We do yoga retreats there. I think the best advice that I have ever had is from a book called The Go Giver, by Bob Burg and John David Mann. It’s about giving and making sure that the quality of experience for other people you come into contact with is best. In business, it is all about relationships and connecting with people. Not doing things because you’re trying to get something, but because it is the right thing to do. That leads to the longevity of what you are able to do. You then have people who will recommend you and call you for service when they need something because they remember you in a good light and trust you. It helps you to create community around your business.
In terms of the music industry: It is a fickle field. One week, one artist is huge; the next week it is a new artist, though some artists have been able to maintain it for many years. I think the main thing you need is passion for what you do, and to recognize that not everybody is on stage singing and holding a guitar. Hundreds of people have worked behind the scenes to make a show happen, as a producer, stage manager, caterer, music producer, videographer, publicist, whatever it is. If you have a passion for music, follow it, but follow it where your nose is really taking you. Don’t try to force yourself to play one specific role. If it’s not working out for you, there are other ways to do it. Whenever there are other people joining our production team, I always say the same thing: The moment you step out of your hotel room, you are on stage. So, when you walk into the hotel, if you do not treat the guy picking up your bags with kindness, he will remember that. You want everyone to remember you in a kind way so they want you back. That way, when you go through ups and downs, people are willing to go through them with you. Otherwise, when you go through the downs, people will think you deserve it.
When it comes to making a difference: That’s the joy of doing what you do. You can sell records and own a beautiful house and car and have everything look perfect on the outside, but when you go back to your house, you should ask yourself, “What did I do today? What did I make happen for someone else?” Really, making a difference is about doing what you can. A woman came up to me in Denver and said that she was a hairdresser and she saw my film and was so moved by it, but didn’t know what she could possibly do to make a difference in the world. Then one day, a woman walked into her salon who was undergoing chemotherapy; her hair was falling out in clumps, and she sat her down in a chair and knew there was nothing she could do with her hair but cut it all off. So she sat there and talked with this woman who cried as she shaved off all of her hair, and they made her up to look as beautiful as she was from the inside out. And from that experience, the two of them decided they should do this one night a week. So now, once a week, they close down the salon and invite people going through chemo in to let her take care of their beauty needs. There is always something we can do to serve our community. It doesn’t have to be the big-letter-“P” politics, because the small-letter-“p” politics can make the bigger difference.
Be Inkandescent: This joy is conveyed in your two children’s books, too. What inspired you to write them?
Michael Franti: For the first one, I had written a song called What I Be, about being oneself. It was on one of my records, and a friend of mine had an idea to turn it into a children’s book. The whole book is about embodying the best characteristics of nature—so if I was the sun, I would radiate and make others warm, etc.
The other book, called Where In The World Is Away, is about recycling. In the book two kids try to find a place to throw away their empty juice bottle. They sit near a pond going through the reasons why not to throw it in there or in the forest, and then a bird comes along and takes them on a journey to a recycling center where they, and the reader, get to see the whole process of recycling.
At the end, they realize there is no place in the world that is “away,” there is just “some place else.” The two kids learn about reducing and reusing and recycling, and they decide to reuse the bottle by each putting a flower in it.
Be Inkandescent: Here’s to that! Thank you so much for being here with us, Michael Franti. We look forward to keeping up with you and sharing your amazing message with with our readers, listeners, and viewers.
About the book: Zamzam is a young boy who enjoys life with his Egyptian grandparents in Alexandria, Egypt, and his American grandparents in New York City. He shares big and little differences in his daily experiences in each country – including phrases in Arabic and English — but ultimately realizes that the most important experiences are exactly the same across cultures.
About Karen: A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Karen grew up surrounded by writing and books. Her father was a journalist and her mother a school librarian. Karen then became an award-winning broadcast journalist for more than two decades. She began reviewing and discussing children’s books on ABC WMAL Radio in Washington, DC, and reviewed children’s books and interviewed authors for the Washington Post, New York Times, the Baltimore Sun, Children’s Literature, Washington Parent, and others.
“Educators have an opportunity to discuss their students’ own experiences with family members from around the country or the world and have them compare similarities and differences of their cultures.” — A Book and a Hug
“Page after page weaves a message of difference into a fabric of harmony, across continents and customs, contexts and cultures, showing a seamless, integrated life that is bridged by love in both directions…The sweetness of the text is well-matched by the whimsy of the art in a way that every child can enjoy. A true pleasure to see and share!” — Andrea E. Stumpf, author Memoirs of an Arabian Princess
“Conveying that even though sights and sounds and language might be different, the love is the same. The book does a good job of not othering one set or making one seem better than the other. It also weaves in Arabic words and culture.” — Anonymous Edelweiss
More about Karen: A graduate of Brown University (international relations), Karen met her Egyptian husband in Washington. They have two grown children and two grandsons, are active in many cultural exchange initiatives, and have been lucky enough to visit Egypt many times — especially Alexandria, her husband’s hometown.
A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Kids magazine — LouAnn Lofton, the author of Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl, knows the value of investing wisely.
Her portfolio started to grow at age 15, shortly after the death of her father, a pharmacist, who set aside funds for LouAnn and her two siblings.
“Because my father died, it meant that I would inherit some money upon my 21st birthday,” the Mississippi native told Be Inkandescent magazine from her home in New Orleans. “And because of that, I decided, about a year out of high school, to learn about investing, so I didn’t squander the opportunity presented to me by that money.
“It wasn’t an overwhelming amount of money — nothing that was going to set me up for the high life anytime soon — but it was enough that I knew I didn’t want to blow it. I also knew no one would do it for me, and had I not armed myself with knowledge, I was liable to spend it instead of saving it and investing it. That would have been a disappointing outcome. And I hated the thought of disappointing my father even after his death.”
It’s always a challenge for families to find an affordable, family-friendly vacation spot that’s fun for dad, mom — and the kids. So we were thrilled to find Wild Dunes in South Carolina. Just 20 minutes from Charleston, this resort by the sea has all the amenities we fantasize about: pools, tennis, golf, yoga, affordable food options — and, best of all, easy access to the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean.
Here’s why Inkandescent® Kids love this hot spot.
A Room With a Review: Wild Dunes Island Resort, Isle of Palms, South Carolina
1. The overview: Clean, easy to navigate, and quiet, this beach hotel, condo, and vacation rental resort is located in the heart of the expansive Wild Dunes Resort. With three pools in the main area, one heated and the others right on the beach, there is plenty of room to roam when the weather is good. There are also two golf courses and tons of tennis courts, fitness centers, and yoga classes to choose from.
2. The rooms: Vacation homes and condos are located throughout the Resort, including beachfront locations. Homes range from three to seven bedrooms, while condos range from one to three. Three accommodation levels allow you to find the rental size and style that best suits you:
Deluxe: These homes and condos feature upscale kitchens and baths, beautiful furnishings, and upgraded electronics, from cooks’ kitchens to plasma-screen TVs. A select number of deluxe oceanfront homes are part of The Collection and feature enhanced amenities and concierge services.
Moderate: A quality vacation rental offering updated kitchens and baths, furnishings, bedding, and electronics; all at a slightly more affordable rate.
Standard: Includes attractive décor with the essential furnishings for comfort in a vacation rental. These accommodations are the most affordable rental throughout Wild Dunes Resort.
Tucked into the heart of Wild Dunes Resort, and just 150 yards from the beach, is The Boardwalk Inn. Ninety-three rooms and suites, including five ADA-accessible rooms, offer a relaxed, private feel that keeps guests coming back year after year. The Boardwalk Inn has earned popularity among guests and critics alike, receiving the AAA Four Diamond award every year since it opened.
3. The restaurants: The Inn also offers The Sea Island Grill & Lounge, an upscale coastal restaurant in a casual atmosphere; a pool; and easy access to the popular The Grand Pavilion and Boardwalk. Also nearby is The Village Plaza, which includes The Lettered Olive Restaurant & Lounge (open seasonally), a salon with spa services, a fitness center, and a grocery market.
Area restaurants are also nearby — but packed, especially after 7 p.m. We tried a handful and can recommend:
The Boathouse Restaurant: Great views of the sunset (but only if you are having at drink at the bar upstairs, or if you ask to sit downstairs — and the tables are often reserved). Most tourists come for the seafood and South Carolina specialties. Be prepared, this place isn’t cheap (budget about $30/person). And definitely make a reservation in the morning for the night you want to eat here.
Luke ‘n Ollie’s Pizzeria If you’re in the mood for take-out pizza and salads, try Luke ‘n Ollie’s. What you get, in addition to some amazingly creative pizza-inspired options (ever had a Caesar salad in a pizza bowl?) is service from some of the nicest locals you’d want to meet. There was a wait here, too; so call ahead and consider the take-out option and consider a picnic on the beach, which is just a block away.
Piggly Wiggly Of course, eating in at your rental property can be a good option, too. To stock up, try the Piggly Wiggly, just five miles from Wild Dunes. In the same shopping center you’ll find a handful of restaurants and shops, a nail salon, and for those eager to sweat out the small stuff, try the Bikram Yoga Studio. For about $20, plus the rental of a mat, it’s a surefire way to get your heart going.
4. The service: Southern hospitality is alive and well at Wild Dunes, where the cheerful staff — including many recent college grads — is willing and able to make you feel at home. Towels, cocktails, suggestions on where to go when you head out for an adventure … you name it, they are happy to assist.
5. The extras: Golf, tennis, fitness rooms, and more make your stay a relaxing, healthy treat. Granted, there is a pretty big price tag that comes with each of these offerings, but if you have money to play with, this is a good place to pull out all the stops.
During high-traffic vacation times — spring break, Easter, and Memorial Day, in particular — there are plenty of activities for kids ages 5-12. Options include the Wild Adventures Club: Sports Day, $40/child; Barrier Island Marine Bio Day, $60/child; and craft classes, $10/item for Tie Dye, Spin Art Discs, Shell and Shark Tooth Necklaces, etc.
There are also Easter Basket deliveries, $30/basket; the Tortoise and Hare Beach 5K Run/Walk, $25/person entry fee; and a breakfast buffet with the Easter Bunny, $10/kids and $15/adults.
Golf specials include a three-day golf pass, $200/person; Round Robin tennis clinics (all levels), $15/session; the daily drill for $29/session; and the future stars clinic (ages 12-16) for $50/session, among other classes.
Two golf courses on the grounds also make Wild Dunes an ideal place to play 36 holes. Rates range from $95-$120/game on the Links Course, and $55-$85/game on the Harbor Course.
There is also a spa on the premises for manicures/pedicures, facials, and haircuts; several large fitness rooms, open to all guests; and an assortment of wellness programs that range from yoga ($20/person) to personal training ($60/session and $110 for two or more people).
6. The price: 1 bedroom oceanfront condos start at $159 per night, 2 bedrooms go for $189, and 3 bedrooms are $229 per night. For fully furnished houses that accommodate up to 10, budget for closer to $3,000 for a weeklong stay. But specials abound, especially if you are booking in advance and/or off-season. Recommended packages include options for families, romantic getaways, golfers, tennis players, meeting planners, and weddings.
Inkandescent rating = 4 seagulls out of four. Definitely worth the trip!
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Summer 2025: Welcome to Inkandescent Kids magazine!
Renee Carleson is a mom to two special needs kids, and that experience has helped her understand the importance of working with other families who need her love and support. Check out our interview with the author about her book and mission!
The Changing DEI Landscape: The Challenge of Finding Steady Footing 
Hope Katz Gibbs: Pat — The last question goes to you. As we mentioned earlier, you are an advocate for women’s rights. If you were queen for a day, what would the world look like for women in 10 years?
My mother was a public school teacher in California for 30 years, and she was very much a leader in our house. She insisted that even though we were all very different—different heights, different colors, different views on the world—she would treat all of us the same, and we would all have the same opportunities to succeed. I really learned that ethic from her, and I believe it’s the same for the whole world. We all should share the same rights and should be given the same opportunities to succeed. We see places where this is not happening, and it takes the efforts of the rest of us to try and give a boost to people who need it. You see it whether it’s war, poverty, or because of climate changes affecting people around the world.
Don’t miss the interview at Elaine’s Literary Salon:“What impresses me most is that Karen is actively involved in disability advocacy in her home state of Maryland,” 
