Feelings Are Not Your Enemy

I don’t know about you, but the nonstop onslaught of terrible things has made me feel raw, vulnerable and afraid. Any polish I typically can muster has been discarded. I just don’t have the energy. Everything feels heavier. Almost like gravity’s been enhanced and we’re more beholden to dirt than ever. Covered up in it. […]

Meet Kristen “Some Selective Fucks” Chapman Gibbons.

There once was a girl who gave WAY too many fucks. Fucks about everything and everyone. Fucks about situations a world away. Fucks about the amount of fucks given, and fucks about those withheld. Over time, the girl grew lopsided. Her limbs heavy with all the fucks she insisted on carrying around. Her mind and […]

Among homelessness and drugs, Shadid Muhammad found himself and a purpose when he found art

Originally posted on Neat Nashville:
Ashshahid Muhammad, 39, originally from Memphis, grew up in the streets for many years, before eventually finding himself through art. At the age of 13, Shadid, as most call him, was involved in a robbery. He was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison but only served six. He…

My Plea to My White Friends and Family in South Carolina

If you are friends with me IRL or online, my political leanings are not in anyway hidden or tamped down. They rarely have been. I’ve been opinionated and passionate about politics for almost forty years (true story). There are many of you who do not agree with me politically about very much. Typically, we just […]

What Twitter Taught Me About The Charleston Shootings

Originally posted on The Boeskool:
Last night, nine people died while worshiping in church. The church was Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest black congregations in the country. An unknown man, described as a white man in his early 20’s wearing a hoodie, went into their Wednesday night prayer service, prayed with them…

I Remember How I Became A More Compassionate Activist

Last night, Tenx9 Nashville hosted nine storytellers in Nashville, sharing around the topic: I Remember. This is my contribution. *I consulted the Oracle (Google)and discovered that Gloria Steinem isn’t the origin of the phrase “the personal is political.” I did say I was late to feminism.

Stories From the Streets of Nashville

A 5 year-old kid wandered in our office today. By himself. Saying he was hungry. We fed him from all the things we had brought for our own lunches. Our office is in the projects off Lafayette and yesterday I took a woman grocery shopping. She had fifteen dollars to spend for the next 7 […]

Tweet of the Week: Vaccinate Your Damn Kids Edition

Our thoughts are also with the measles-ravaged country America. I hope we are screening them before they come to Africa. — Elnathan John (@elnathan) February 1, 2015

Leelah’s Legacy

Reach out without judgements.

Your Brain Said It Was Ok To Stretch It

I spoke with your brain privately, and one message was unmistakable: Feed Your Noggin. Hacks for Start-ups: https://twitter.com/GrowthHackers/status/530512536974921728?s=09 Help with navigating grammar: https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/530443200834830336?s=09 Go to college or graduate school…for free: https://twitter.com/Awkward_Duck/status/530432044388872193?s=09 And if knowledge fails, at least smell good. https://twitter.com/DangerMindsBlog/status/530442397004886016?s=09