There’s something special and perhaps a little magical about the Holiday Season. As the weather starts to cool and the leaves start to change, there seems to be excitement in the air in anticipation of the holidays. We tend to look for greater human connection as we plan gatherings from Thanksgiving feasts to New Year’s celebrations. While some see the holidays as the opportunity to connect with family and friends through festive celebrations of their faith, others may enjoy the more commercialized aspects of the season.
Category Archives: Advisors
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Need a break? Take in history on the riverfront – by Deborah Levine
originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press
We’ve been glued to the news on TV and internet day and night. Definitely time to take a break from holding my breath. What to do? We decided to go to the riverfront, become one with the river’s flow and check out the replicas of Christopher Columbus’ Nina and Pinta. This history buff was fascinated by the ancient boats that sailed the seas. And they brought back fond ocean memories of my island girl youth.
Ultra-Processed from Halloween to Thanksgiving – by Deborah Levine
Every year, we struggle to resist the temptation minute to minute to over-sugar ourselves. It begins with Halloween candy and proceeds to Thanksgiving dinner, exploding with holiday eating extravaganzas with the year’s tastiest foods. By the New Year, the scale shows our over-indulgence. It’s no coincidence that 12% of gym members join in January. And it’s discouraging that 80% of New Year’s resolutions disappear in February.
Ukrainian moment in Chattanooga – by Deborah Levine
(originally published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Always a fan of international projects, I eagerly attended the recent reception marking Chattanooga’s new collaboration with Ukraine’s city of Trostyanets. What a pleasure to meet its mayor, Yuriy Bova! Mayor Tim Kelly had formalized a cooperative agreement with the war-torn Ukrainian city that’s only 20 miles from the Russian border.
Speaking with Mayor Bova and his interpreter was a real pleasure. I was delighted when he mentioned his desire to be online. I told him about my podcast and asked if he’d like to do an interview. Never imagining that he would say yes, I held my breath as his staff made the arrangements to connect my office in East Ridge with his in Ukraine. Would this actually happen?
Continue reading Ukrainian moment in Chattanooga – by Deborah Levine
Are we better than this? Well, obviously not – by Terry Howard
Call it stealing shamelessly, opportunism or laziness, or whatever you choose to accuse me of after reading this narrative. Okay, I plead guilty.
You see, when the unexpected results from the recent election settled into our imaginations, reactions were immediate, passionate and all over the place.
Now like the opportunist you may accuse me of, like the hungry grizzly bear wading into the cold Alaskan waters with her pick from hundreds of spawning salmon, as a writer I got to pick and choose kernels from an assortment of writers who poured out their heartfelt reactions to the results.
Continue reading Are we better than this? Well, obviously not – by Terry Howard
Renewing Diversity #3: We Failed George Floyd – by Carlos Cortés
In 1999, Malcolm Gladwell weighed in with his praised and criticized bestseller, The Tipping Point, a provocative exploration of the process of social change. A quarter century later, in 2024, Gladwell revisited the topic via Revenge of the Tipping Point, a meditation on where he had been right and where he had gone wrong with his broad thesis. Musing about his personal journey, Gladwell observed: “Maybe it would be a good idea for anyone who writes a book that tries to make sense of the world to be forced every 25 years to go back and revisit the original thesis.”
Continue reading Renewing Diversity #3: We Failed George Floyd – by Carlos Cortés
What to do if your candidate wins or loses – by Terry Howard, Elwood Watson
An email I received from a fellow named “Pedro” led to this co-authored piece, an exchange between Elwood Watson, PhD and yours truly.
“Pedro” wrote: “I read, reread – and will read again – your piece, “ Bad boys. Bad boys. Whatcha gonna do when they (Project 2025) come for you?,” the context of which if Trump returns to office. Hard as I tried, I just couldn’t shake the thought of the project’s plan to cut Social Security benefits given that my retired parents depend on their Social Security checks as their sole source of income. My hope is that you’ll consider publishing something on what actions folks can take if their preferred candidate loses the election.”
Continue reading What to do if your candidate wins or loses – by Terry Howard, Elwood Watson
Notes from a Native Son – Mound Bayou (Part 2) – by Terry Howard
In PART 1, “Near Medgar’s Desk – Mound Bayou,” we chronicled the little- known history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, the first all-Black town in America founded by ex-slaves. The person who arranged to get us there was Bernard Strong who was born and raised in Mound Bayou. In PART 2, Mr. Strong shares more about our recent trip along with his innermost thoughts about growing up in Mound Bayou.
As a native of Mound Bayou, what were a few thoughts that ran through your mind as we approached, spent time in and left Mound Bayou?
Continue reading Notes from a Native Son – Mound Bayou (Part 2) – by Terry Howard
Near Medgar Evers’ Chair: Mound Bayou (Part 1) – by Terry Howard
In unfairness to them both, while Hermon Johnson, Jr. Museum director, and Darryl Johnson, Sr. CEO, Mound Bayou Movement, provided a captivating history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, I couldn’t shake an image nearby. I mean, never in my life could I imagine sitting less than ten feet from the wooden desk and tattered leather chair where once sat the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers cranking out letters on a black typewriter. I walked over to the desk, inhaled, and fought back a desire to touch either it or the chair.
So, what brought me to this indelible moment in my life, one that evoked such an incompatible mix of emotions, among them shock, anger, pride and above all…. inspiration?
Continue reading Near Medgar Evers’ Chair: Mound Bayou (Part 1) – by Terry Howard
Recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month – by David Grinberg
Leading Companies in Disability Inclusion are Twice as Profitable
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) occurs every October and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
This monthly observance dates to 1945. The goal is to shine a spotlight on — and raise awareness about — disability issues in the workplace, including accessibility, hiring, training, advancement and retention.
Continue reading Recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month – by David Grinberg