Don’t be surprised that I love March, Women’s History Month. I was in the first Women’s Liberation March down Manhattan’s 5th Ave. in 1970. Betty Friedan led the march with NYC providing a permit for using just one lane of traffic. The 50,000 turnout was massive and Betty led us into the full width of 5th Avenue, startling law enforcement. I remember tripping over traffic cones meant as barricades. Unfortunately, some barricades seem to last forever.
With the news being so depressing and alarming these days, is there any relief? There’s Russia and the murder of Putin protester Alexei Navalney, and the Middle East mess. Then there’s the US with 2024 having the second-highest number on record of mass killings and deaths to this point in a single year. Last year ended with 42 mass killings and 217 deaths. I’m guessing that the final numbers for 2024 will be even worse. My brain hurts and I’m sure that I’m not alone in looking for a ray of sunshine.
(originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press)
My first reaction to the hacking attempts on my website was to wonder about the motivation behind it. Were the multiple failed login attempts related to the emails I just sent outannouncing an upcoming event about “Serving our Diverse Communities”? The event’s purpose is to highlight and honor those who serve and have them share their expertise. So, given its diversity element, could the motivation behind these attempts to mess with the back end of my website be at least partly political?
I freaked when I saw this article online, “The Covid extremists can’t bear that nobody is listening to them”. I’d just recovered from Covid and then, something called Covid Rebound. Having escaped Covid for years, and been thoroughly vaccinated, I thought I was safe. I complained to my daughter, the doctor. After briefly expressing sympathy, she said, “You’re old! Be grateful for those vaccinations. Otherwise you could be dead.”
Many quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. were posted on line this week. A fellow Chattanooga colleague got my attention with, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”Then I got an email from a synagogue buddy asking me why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) was being silenced and suggested that I write about this for my TFP column. Interesting coincidence! But I was busy mailing a DEI book that I’d written. Holding the book in one hand, I picked up an unmarked envelope mailer only to find that there was something already in it. And that’s when coincidence became weirdness.
If you’re like me and get what seems like 7 million reminders to do things better, you know that this is a self-improvement month .My inbox is full of suggestions for getting in shape, losing weight, eating better …you name it.Watch the news and you’ll see reporters give tips on what diets to follow to help you live longer and healthier. Ironically, those reports are interspersed with ads for the Ultra-processed food” (UPF) you’re being told to avoid. The processed food industry is spending big bucks to promote their UPF yummies containing high levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar. Having learned long ago that UPFs contributes to my chronic inflammation, I’m determined to counteract the 14 billions of dollars spent annually marketing this crap.
Did you know that about 73% of our country’s food supply is ultra-processed and are about 52% cheaper than less processed alternatives. Further, of all the advertisements related to food or drink, almost 80 % were junk food ads. We’re being played!
I could barely contain my excitement a few days ago when the Chattanooga Times Free Press published this article, “Businesses face calls to include faith in diversity program”. Do you know how many years I’ve been promoting the idea of competence in religious diversity? It began over 30 years ago when I created the DuPage/Chicago Interfaith Resource Network and got a call from the county’s police chief. DuPage County had acquired an amazingly diverse population as it developed into Chicago’s technology corridor. And law enforcement officers were struggling, especially when there was a death, like someone run over on the highway. Apparently they were asking all the loved ones if they should call a priest and were offending everyone who was not Catholic. Would I please wear a pager 24/7 so that they could call on me to help them with the correct language?
Current debates about preserving history can be toxic, but our Bluff View Art District illustrates an important dimension to that debate: Art. One of Bluff View’s treasures is its oldest building, the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. The museum’s collection of antique glass, porcelain and pottery is one of the finest in the world. And the story behind the collection is as fascinating as the artifacts themselves.
Visiting the museum, I heard about Anna Safley Houston who was supposedly born in 1876. I say “supposedly” because written records were iffy back in the year that Alexander Bell invented the telephone and the art of glassworks was emerging. Born in a small rural town, Anna was an unlikely collector of that art which she stored in an East Ridge barn.
Bunny Bear Adventuresis a Winner in 9 international film festivals for its use of the science of storytelling to make you laugh and make you sigh!
Hear storyteller, speaker and award-winning author Deborah Levine share true stories about trying to fit in and being the different one. The stories are a big hit with ages 6-11. Parents and teachers use Bunny Bear Adventures to build social and emotional awareness, learn empathy, appreciate differences and show respect.
SCROLL DOWN to see VIDEO STORY INTRODUCTION
and BUNNY BEAR RESOURCE PACKAGE SPECIAL OFFER:
VIDEO STORIES, TEACHING GUIDE & COLORING BOOK
“These entertaining and instructive stories help facilitate dialogue about difficult subjects like bullying, race, identity, and discrimination.” ~ Kim Wayans: In Living Color Hollywood actress & writer
“Sharing Deborah Levine’s ‘Bunny Bear’ story with my daughters brought about a heartwarming experience that bridged generations. As my daughters, aged 9 and 7, listened with wide-eyed wonder, I found myself just as captivated by the tale. Deborah’s storytelling masterfully intertwines empathy, openness, and inclusion, creating a platform for us to explore these concepts together.” ~ Dr. Anjam Chaudhary: DEI Program Coordinator, Michigan State U.
“I would highly recommend these stories to any child who is the new child on the block. Deborah makes one feel that anything is possible in a new situation. And her voice would make any child feel as if you are talking to just her/him.” ~ Mary Jane McKinsey: grandmother & teacher
“I grew up with Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood — your voice and storytelling cadence took me back to being a child and hanging on his every word. Adults talking to children in a way that shows them they are respected, valued, encourages them to use their imagination, think for and love themselves AND to value and respect others ❤️ we need more of that!” ~ Katie Hall: community activist
CLICK below for INTRO VIDEO
RESOURCES!
A. VIDEO STORIES
CLICK for STORY #1 Moving and Making My Peace: How the Bermuda Girl Found Peace and Decided to Stay
CLICK for STORY #2
Finding My Name in America: How the New Kid Earned Her Name and Found her Place
This guide uses the science of storytelling for SEL” Social and Emotional Learning. Given the growing need to teach respect and inclusion in our communities and schools, the Bunny Bear Teaching Guide provides a creative and personal approach to laying the groundwork for positive and productive human interaction.
The discussion questions at the end of each story can be answered by individual students orally and/or in writing. Or, small groups can discuss them together and create team responses to the questions. Discussing these questions helps students:
– Broaden their world view;
– Develop emotional intelligence;
– Learn empathy;
– Appreciate differences;
– Be respectful.
This coloring book for ages 6-11 is not only engaging and fun, but includes discussion questions that help build critical thinking skills, enhance social and emotional awareness, increase empathy, appreciate differences and show respect. (Note: older kids and adults will also enjoy Bunny Bear)
Creating community is a mission that takes passion, persistence and personal commitment. I did not expect to experience all that when I dropped by the Local Coffee of East Ridge (ER) on Ringgold Road. I’d heard about meetings there from friends and thought I’d check out their local book signing event. I soon discovered that it’s also the center for the East Ridge Creative Arts nonprofit (ERCA). Memories came rushing back to me of how I designed my masters degree in Urban Planning at the University of Illinois at Chicago to focus on the economic impact of Arts and Culture on a community.
SCROLL DOWN to see VIDEO STORY INTRODUCTION
CLICK below for 
This guide uses the science of storytelling for SEL” Social and Emotional Learning. Given the growing need to teach respect and inclusion in our communities and schools, the Bunny Bear Teaching Guide provides a creative and personal approach to laying the groundwork for positive and productive human interaction.
This coloring book for ages 6-11 is not only engaging and fun, but includes discussion questions that help build critical thinking skills, enhance social and emotional awareness, increase empathy, appreciate differences and show respect.