“Wait behind the line. One at a time,” the security guard cautions as my teenage daughter and I approach the check in for airport security. She is still a minor and does not yet have a driver’s license, so she is by my side as I step up to show my ID. “We are together,” I state loudly, my shoulders tense and my chin raised. The guard’s eyes dart from me to my daughter, his face shifting from … [Read more...]
Listening Across Differences
November 16, 2016 by
“Try to be present and listen respectfully, with an open mind,” I suggest. I facilitate personal story sharing in schools and organizations with the aim of building understanding across human differences. I frame the session with guidelines, and by setting the intention of listening. “This is a time to listen to personal stories, to try to understand the reality of some members of your … [Read more...]
Hear Our Voices
March 17, 2016 by
The young teacher stood in front of the entire school, one hand in the pocket of her khakis, a microphone in the other. She shook her short blond hair from her eyes and took a deep breath, as the whole room was quiet. “Coming out is something you don’t just do once, you have to do it over and over again,” she stated somberly. Then she smiled, “… unless you happen to come out to all 350 of your … [Read more...]