Category Archives: Advisors

Advisory Council

Advisors, Authors A-H, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

Well, did I answer your question “Deb?” – by Terry Howard

    “We write history, not erase history.” ~ President Joe Biden 

“Deb,” the editor of one of several global publications I write for posed the following question to me and her other columnists who write on issues of culture, religion, race and other issues:

What do you consider the most critical issue facing our nation in 2025?

Wow, where do I start? 

Well, after mulling through a list of top of mind burning issues for me, I kept circling back to the first on that list that crossed my mind….banning books altogether or, at a minimum, rewriting ugly aspects of African American history – think slavery – in the U.S.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

A realistic approach to 2025 – by Marc Brenman

“When You Stare into the Abyss,
the Abyss Stares Back” ~Nietzsche

The most important event in the new year for the United States will be Trump’s resumption of the Presidency. Will this mean the end of American democracy, as he has pointed to with pronouncements like being a dictator, inciting insurrection, encouraging legal prosecution of critics and Democratic legislators, opposing a peaceful transition of elected power, nominating bizarre people for the highest Executive Branch positions, etc?

There has been much discussion as to what good-thinking people should do. Much of the verbiage concerns self-care, marching around, doubling down on beliefs unpopular with half the American electorate, etc. This reminds me of trigger warnings, safe spaces, and correct pronouns. I’ve been focusing instead on the following:

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DL Opinion columns

The power and influence of storytelling – by Deborah Levine

(originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Once upon a time, there was a storytelling festival held in Chattanooga’s Coolidge Park called TaleSpin. I remember this 2008 event because I was recruited by Vincent Phipps to be one of the storytellers. I hesitated, but he reassured, coached, and encouraged me until I changed my mind and attitude. TaleSpin no longer takes place here, but I was set on a storytelling path that expanded exponentially. Vincent evolved into the top 1% of the World’s Best Communication Experts. This matters because in these “interesting times”, storytelling is key to being heard and seen.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Social Issues

Holiday Connections – by Dr. Gail Dawson

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. 

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DL Opinion columns

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.

Healthcare, Levine articles

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.

DL Opinion columns

Ukrainian moment in Chattanooga – by Deborah Levine

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(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?

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Politics

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.

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Advisors, Authors A-H

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.”

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Politics

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.”

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