A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to interview Jessica Craft, founder of Rock to the Future, an organization that serves underprivileged youth in Philadelphia through music. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandon Hanks, another Pennsylvania local, who provides a similar service through theater. Rebel Stages is a performing arts organization whose goal is to provide communities with professional-quality theater at an affordable cost and to nurture, support an

I have two daughters. A mere 22 months (and only an inch or so in height) apart, they are often mistaken as twins. And though in many ways, they are exact opposites, we often find that we raise them like twins. They get the same allowance, have the same bed time, do the same number of chores. When my oldest daughter, Caitlyn, is old enough to get her driver’s license, it will no doubt feel like a personal affront that Charlotte has to wait another 22 months to get hers. This

If you’ve followed my writing for a while, you know that it often centers around sharing my personal experiences of health challenges and family addiction. I shared here that writing LIFELINE was a coping mechanism—helping me find hope and healing through creativity. It’s my firm belief that by sharing our experiences, we not only set ourselves on a path to healing, but we empower others to own their experiences, to find comfort and hope in connection. Today I’m so excited to

I had a seizure a little over a week ago. If you’ve followed my writing for a while, you know that I have suffered from periodic seizures since my oldest daughter was born almost twelve years ago. I’ve been very lucky in that four years have passed since my last seizure, but the feelings that emerge in its wake are all too familiar: loss, grief, fear. FEAR. To be somewhere one minute, safe and comfortable (my bed, the couch, even in my husband’s arms) and then to awaken momen