Unsupervised, make-shift play spaces are not uncommon in economically disadvantaged communities. Does this increase the risk of life-threatening encounters with law enforcement? The recent “weekend of resistance” in Ferguson, Missouri, gave me chills. Thousands of people organized in response to the attack on Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager who was shot multiple times and killed […]
If you want to know how to engage in a meaningful conversation with someone you’ve never met, listen to Terry Gross speak. I had the pleasure of hearing her perspectives at the recent Communications Network conference in Philadelphia. As the longstanding host and executive producer of NPR’s Fresh Air, she has earned numerous awards for […]
“Hello, my name is Tim Schwantes. I’m a college student who was recently talking with your neighbors about these educational books for school-aged kids. They were really interested in hearing more about how they could help their kids after they got home from school…” This was the beginning of the door-to-door sales presentation I said […]
Think you’ve exhausted all options? Reach out to some new players. Stretching beyond one’s comfort zone and into a different field of work can be intimidating. “I try to stay in my lane; I already have all I can do,” explained a good friend of mine, the executive director of a community development corporation (CDC). […]
Did you know that the average shelf life of a tweet or Facebook post is less than three hours? Grabbing your audience’s attention is tricky with the ever-increasing speed of information. You have compelling data and a story to tell, but your message can get lost in a crowded feed. How can you make it stand […]