(originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press) 

AI can let us have conversations with folks who are long gone. Fascinating! That’s what I thought when I read this by Stéphane Peter, founder and CEO of Catloaf Software, Inc. “Text With Jesus was created to help people engage with Scripture and faith in a more approachable and interactive way…With Voicemails, users can request a spoken response when they want the conversation to feel more reflective, personal, or prayerful.” Truly inspired, I got a conversation going with Albert Einstein. I loved texting back and forth with him and ignored the huge downside to this AI technology.

Continue reading Scammed by AI’s pseudo-famous folks – by Deborah Levine →

 (column originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press)

I was hypnotized by the obituary of The Rev. Lamar Hardwick, pastor at Tri-Cities Church in Georgia. It wasn’t his degrees that caught my attention, although they were certainly impressive: Master of Divinity (Emory U. Candler School of Theology), Doctorate of Ministry (Liberty U. School of Divinity). It was his nickname, “The Autism Pastor”, that got me.  At age 36, he’d been diagnosed with autism and became an activist, helping autistic church members. He then wrote about how all churches could better prioritize people with disabilities. That’s when memories of my younger brother Johnny bubbled up inside me.

Johnny was brilliant, but his autism affected basic skills such as reading. And his people skills were non-existent. I loved and comforted him however I could. We’d sit together in the TV room watching science fiction shows. They were fascinating to me, but vital for him. He hoped to find another world where he’d be welcomed. This one was solitary and cruel! Fellow students from elementary school, high school, and college insulted him, harassed him and even attacked him. Horrifying! 

Continue reading Time to join the autism activists – by Deborah Levine  →

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Chattanooga’s Jewish history is a product of many generations. The Mizpah Congregation synagogue is definitely part of that history. It was built in the mid-1800s by Adolph Ochs who bought The Chattanooga Times and later purchased and developed The New York Times. You may remember Ochs’ granddaughter, Ruth Holmburg. As publisher of The Chattanooga Times, she took positions supporting the civil rights movement and against government corruption and environmental pollution. The Ochs family has been greatly influence, and they’re not alone.

Continue reading Grateful for generations of do-gooders – by Deborah Levine →

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Folks often cite famous women in history as their inspiration during Women’s History Month. The stories about Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are good examples. But here in Chattanooga, we have our own inspirational women who have spoken about Women’s History Month and its meaning. Let’s learn from the stories that they share.

Continue reading Women Storytelling for Women’s History Month – by Deborah Levine →

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Much excitement at City Hall on March 6 when Mayor Tim Kelly announced that the City of Chattanooga and the Ukrainian City of Trostyanets have solidified their friendship with an official Sister Cities agreement. It was amazing to be present at this Zoom signing ceremony of the documents connecting Chattanooga and Trostyanets as official Sister Cities. 

Continue reading Chattanooga’s Sister City in Ukraine – by Deborah Levine →

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

I remember as a kid telling my mom that I didn’t want to ever get old and drop dead. She told me to get over myself because humans are like flowers: we bloom, fade and die. So anticipating getting a shot in my left eye for AMD (Age-related macular degeneration), I had to get over my fear. I distracted myself with YouTube videos. I love watching Julie Andrews dancing on the mountain singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music”. Sighing blissfully, I watch her sing “Do Re Me” with the kids, and then, singing Edelweiss with the whole family just before they climb over the mountains to escape the Nazis. Andrews made The Sound of Music movie in 1965 and is now 90 years old. She doesn’t have AMD but did lose her voice during vocal chord surgery gone awry – a reminder that aging has many unanticipated consequences.  

Continue reading Getting older – the Eyes have it! – by Deborah Levine →

(column for Friday, Feb. 13)

When East Ridge was officially founded in 1921, I wonder if residents envisioned a gathering center like the one that just opened. As we gathered together outside the beautiful building, it was obvious that the tag line was a perfect fit: “Where History Meets Celebration”.  Beginning the ribbon cutting ceremony, ER Mayor Brian Williams highlighted the words of the new brochure: “Every event held here adds a new story to the city’s timeline – a place where neighbors, families, and friends gather to create lasting memories.” What a gift! Not only to East Ridge, but to the communities surrounding us.

“Coming together…Unity” was emphasized by Mayor Williams in his introduction. He shared that a decade ago, the vision was an open pavilion with a basketball court which will now be added to the Community Center. Today, the expanded vision for Venue 1921 was built by a team whose members applied their passion, experience, and expertise. I was delighted that City Manager Scott Miller had delayed his retirement so that he could make this public statement: “In my 45-year career, this is the grandest building and team I’ve overseen.”

Continue reading Community gift of unity: Venue 1921 – by Deborah Levine →