Health, Hope and Happiness By: Annie Meehan When I was little, I was the middle of seven kids raised by a mentally ill mom and an abusive alcoholic dad; I had no one to help me. I never want anyone else to feel like that. I spend...
Candace Carnahan, Safety Speaker I grew up in the country, a small town called Newcastle - which graduated into the city of Miramichi, New Brunsick the year before I graduated high school. The pulp and paper mill, which was the bread and butter of the town,...
By Jennifer Vickery During the pandemic, I realized that I had rarely left my house and began to lose touch with going out to places. I was ridden with anxiety and was fearful. I needed to do something to get help. We decided in December 2020...
The Power of Art By Anna M. A. Stracey What can you really know about the grandparents you never met? Second-hand stories and anecdotes? Vague descriptions and family photos? These provide a form, a basic shape, but not the warm embodiment of that person. How do you...
I am from Plant City, a small town in Florida I like to call Itty Bitty Plant City. My father joined the military when I was six years old, so I have lived and traveled worldwide. I even graduated from high school in Stuttgart, Germany. At the...
By Lauren Sisler, ESPN Sportscaster | Addiction Prevention Advocate | Inspirational Speaker As a sports reporter, I get the opportunity to share a lot of stories about teams, coaches, individual athletes, fans, and even entire communities. It is what I "do" as a professional, but most...
Julie Thurgood-Burnett, Hereward Farms Julie Thurgood Burnett is a self-made woman. She is a mother, developer of numerous passions – and is no stranger to both trials and successes in her life. Currently, Julie serves as the President and CEO of a lavender farm and skincare...
Cassandra James Weathersby, Champion for Mental Wellness I suffered in silence for so many years due to stigma and cultural biases within my communities regarding mental health care and treatment. I was faithful in my church, yet there was no help. I was dying on the inside, barely getting...
When My World Paused: Miscarriage and Life By Jennifer Vickery I suffered a miscarriage in March. I have two wonderful children. I’m very blessed. My firstborn is a sweet boy, and my second is a lively daughter. Both are my light. While I thought my path to...
By Yolanda Pourciau We agreed to meet at a seafood restaurant known for its catfish and gouda grits, called Jonah’s. It was the Holiday Season, and most people were wearing their annoyingly cheerful reds and greens. Even I, had on red. I don’t tend to dress...