Real Life She-roes and Heroes: Hosts and Hostesses

I have finally arrived at the last of the forty blog entries I intended  to lead up to the release of my new CD, "Heroes and She-roes."  I am very proud of these songs and am humbled to have been able to collaborate on them with such exceptional artists as Matt and AnnMarie.

Today, I leave Nashville to bring these songs all around the northeastern U.S. as part of my special program, "We Need a Hero!"  (Check out where I'm going to be on the calendar at MissLynn.com!)

When I travel, I stay almost exclusively in the homes of people I know.  These family and friends open their homes and make it possible for me to do what I love, in spite of the fact that I don't make very much money doing it.  I am so grateful for their generosity and hospitality.  In their quiet, unobtrusive way, they are the she-roes and heroes behind the scenes of every tour I do!  Thank you, friends!

And thanks to YOU for reading along with these Heroes and She-roes blogs!  I hope to see you some time this summer at "We Need a Hero!"

A Real-Life Hero and She-ro: My Mom and Dad

My last post was about my friend and hero, Matt, who produced my "Heroes and She-roes" project (coming soon!)  I am very excited to share the fruit of our collaboration with the world. 

 

But we would not have had the chance to make this CD, and I would not have the chance to do ANY of the things I have the privilege of doing if it were not for my mother and father.  I can make music and bring it to kids and adults all over because of their emotional and financial support.  And I am the person I am because of the values they instilled in me about integrity, respect and the value of every individual.

 

There would be no Miss Lynn--in any sense--without them.  And I am so grateful.

 



 

A Real-Life Hero: Matt Odmark

The release of my new EP, "Heroes and She-roes" is right around the corner!  And it wouldn't be happening without the exquisite leadership of my friend Matthew Odmark at the helm as producer.  Even though I have known Matt for a long time, this was our first opportunity to work together.

Confession:  I do NOT love the recording studio.  But Matt made the experience into an absolute pleasure.  He showed tremendous kindness and respect for the fact that what I do is deeply personal for me.  I was sorry when the recording process was over!

And Matt is not only a hero at his job, but all over the world.  He is one of the founding members of Blood:Water Mission, aiding communities in Africa through addressing HIV/AIDS and clean water.

Read more about Blood:Water Mission 

Here is the quilt that forms the artwork for "Heroes and She-roes," created by she-ro AnnMarie McCallister!

Real Heroes and She-roes: Veterans Crisis Hotline

Today we in the United States commemorate those among our military who have given their lives in service for our country.  I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the contribution of an extraordinary group of people who serve those servers.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded the prize for Best Short Form Documentary earlier this year to a film called, "Crisis Hotline:  Veterans Press 1."  In the opening of the film, the statistic is shared that every 80 minutes in the United States, one of our military veterans will take his or her own life.  The film chronicles the work of the men and women at the nation's only veterans' crisis call center in Canandaigua, New York.  They answer the phone for our veterans reaching out from severe mental strain.  I left the experience of watching the film in complete awe of them and what they do.

Even heroes and she-roes need heroes and she-roes.  These women and men are just that.

Read more about "Crisis Hotline:  Veterans Press 1" on HBO.com

A Real-Life Hero: Sam Tsemberis

It has been my experience that one can never fully anticipate the impact of a new undertaking at its outset, and working on this Heroes and She-roes blog series has certainly borne that notion out.  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to reflect upon people making great and small differences in the world, and have encountered so many stories that I would not have otherwise!

None of these newly discovered heroes has moved me more than Sam Tsemberis.  Dr. Tsemberis is a psychologist by training, and happened unexpectedly into a role working with homeless individuals.  His research, and the models developed from it, have been the basis of the most successful programs for ending chronic homelessness in the United States.

Meet the Outsider Who Accidentally Solved Chronic Homelessness (Washington Post - Inspired Life)

Reading this piece about him and his work from the Washington Post, I cannot help but wonder how many other difficulties we as a society could help ameliorate if we would only take the approach of treating people with respect and dignity, irrespective of their behaviors or circumstances.

A Real-Life She-ro: AnnMarie McCallister

When your job entails "transferring things from the inside to the outside," (as I quoted Jonathan Safran Foer in this previous blog post), the work you do is so personal that it can be difficult to find other artists with whom to have a fruitful collaboration.  I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with designer and artist AnnMarie McCallister, also known as Glad Annie (Studios).  She built quilts and did graphic design for my last two CDs, as well as designing my promotional materials.  Before they have ever heard a note of the songs contained on them, people frequently comment how beautiful the packaging is!

 

 AnnMarie is making the world more beautiful through her art, but she also is committed to making life better in her local community.  She serves on the board of the Worthington Resource Pantry in her hometown of Worthington, OH, the mission of which is (in part):  "We are committed to building a health Worthington."  What could be more she-roic than that?

I am delighted that I have once more been able to collaborate with AnnMarie on the artwork and design for my upcoming CD, "Heroes and She-roes"!  Keep checking back for the reveal of her latest masterpiece!  :)

A Real-Life Hero: Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert and I have a lot in common.  TONS.  We are both humans, both hilarious, both humble (at least I presume he also is), and we both love our South Carolina peeps!  Although to be fair, he probably has more of them than I, since he is actually from the Palmetto State.  And recently announced that he has arranged for $800,00 in grants to South Carolina public school teachers!  Here is an article about the grants from Greenville, SC:

Stephen Colbert:  SC Teachers' $800,00 Man

To quote the man himself:  "Enjoy your learning, South Carolina!"

Real-Life She-roes: Leslie, Kristen, and Tammy

My home city of Nashville is very racially and ethnically diverse, facts which can make it difficult to hear and know one another as neighbors.  In the midst of recent events across our nation that highlight the deep racial divides that still exist, we must ask:  how do we move forward, together?  How do we do a better job of hearing, seeing, and knowing one another across the lines that separate us, so that together we might build a more just society?

Three strong women in our community have taken leadership in trying to answer some of these difficult questions.  Recognizing that no one person or group has all the answers, they have begun by hosting a series of conversations for the woman of Nashville.  Their hope is to create safe, truthful spaces in which to build relationships within our community.

I so admire these ladies and their passion towards change.  They are she-roes!  Here is a photo of them from the Facebook group they started, Nashville Continues the Conversation on Race. 

Nashville Continues the Conversation on Race

on Sunday, April 26, 2015

A Real-Life She-ro: Amy Schumer

If you want people to listen, make them laugh.  Especially if you are telling something they don't particularly want to hear.

I can think of few ladies who better embody this concept than comedian Amy Schumer.  Her Comedy Central program, "Inside Amy Schumer," is largely targeted at skewering sexist stereotypes and the ways in which our culture marginalizes women.  And it is hilarious.  (Note:  it is absolutely not appropriate for children.)

Ms. Schumer is currently receiving much-deserved praise for a recent episode parodying the classic film, "12 Angry Men."  Here is NPR's brilliant Linda Holmes (she's a she-ro, too!) breaking down some of what is so fantastic about it:

NPR "Monkey See" Blog:  "Amy Schumer Puts Her Own Looks on Trial"

The truth of how messed up some things in our world are can be pretty tough to take.  I am so thankful for gifted ladies like Amy Schumer who help it go down a little easier!

Watch clips from "Inside Amy Schumer"  on ComedyCentral.com

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Hooray for science!  And hooray for NdT, who has been an outspoken and innovative advocate for science education.  His leadership in this area and the myriad ways he has encouraged kids and adults to develop curiosity about our world and universe would be more than enough to make him a hero, but he is heroic in even more ways.

Read this story on Upworthy about a girl's question to him about dyslexic scientists

Thanks, Dr. deGrasse Tyson, for helping so many people to see the astonishing beauty and diversity in our universe, including we human beings who are part of it!

Read more about Neil deGrasse Tyson on Wikipedia


(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Juliette Gordon Low

Who doesn't love some Samoas and Thin Mints?  (Well, probably not people with gluten intolerance or other dietary restrictions--but if you're able to eat them, you probably love them!)  These tasty treats may be among the first things that come to many minds at the mention of Girl Scouting, but Girl Scouts and Girl Guides are much more than cookie-sellers! 

The Girl Scout Mission:
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

In other words:  the Girl Scouts are helping girls grow into she-roes!  And there would be no Girl Scouts (or cookies) without the original Girl Scout She-ro, movement founder Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low.

Read more about Juliette Gordon Low on the Girl Scouts' website!

 

 

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)



A Real-Life Hero: Robert Lindberg

Sometimes people face big difficulties, which require big heroics.  But lots of our lives are full of small, daily struggles--and the people who help in these situation are real heroes and she-roes to those whose lives they make easier.

I have dear friends in Sharon, Massachusetts, and through them I became aware of Robert Lindberg, a true hero in lots of small ways to residents in that area. 

Learn more about the remarkable Mr. Lindberg here!

I am inspired by Mr. Lindberg's loyalty and tenacity--he is a hero!



(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

Real-Life She-roes: Catherine and Tiffany

I'm getting ready to head back on the road this summer with a new concert, "We Need a Hero!" (check out the calendar at MissLynn.com for dates!)  The whole reason I have been writing this blog series is to lead up to these concerts, and the release of the accompanying CD, "Heroes and She-roes!"  I am very excited to be able to share with kids and families these stories of characters who have a problem, and characters who come to the rescue!

But bringing concerts to places far and near means spending a lot of time away from home, which is complicated and difficult.  I couldn't do it without help from lots of my friends and family, all of whom are heroes and she-roes to me.

Two friends to whom I am enormously grateful are Tiffany and Catherine, who tirelessly tag-team the responsibility of caring for my two sixteen-year old cats during the (sometime very long!) stretches while I am out of town.  It is such a comfort to know that my pets are well cared for while I travel.  Without Catherine and Tiff, I could not do what I do.

Thank you, friends!  You are my she-roes!

(not Tiffany or Catherine, but my cat, Sapphire, in her favorite spot by the sink)

 



(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Joss Whedon

I admit it:  I am really excited about the new Avengers movie.  I have been a late adopter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; most of the "superhero" movies I had seen in the past left me largely underwhelmed, and I had more or less written off the genre.  But I kept hearing that this series of films were worth the investment, and so I finally consented--much to my great delight.

But even before Marvel Studios set out to reimagine their heroes and she-roes on film, I was a great admirer of writer/director/maker-of-cool-stuff Joss Whedon.  He has a knack for telling stories with a broad appeal without pandering to the audience.

AND FURTHERMORE, he is able to work within an admittedly broken system (i.e. Hollywood) to try and remedy some of the sexism and racism within it.  His movies routinely feature women in strong roles and characters of various races.

I could not decide which of these JW "strong women" memes to include here, so here are both!

Joss Whedon on Wikipedia



(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Ella Jenkins

Of all the people who do essentially the same thing that I do as a job, Ms. Ella Jenkins is the queen.  There would be no Justin Roberts, Laurie Berkner, Dan Zanes--there would likely be no RAFFI without Ms. Jenkins. 

But she is not my she-ro just because we do (more-or-less) the same job.  I had the opportunity to experience a live "performance" with her at the final Kindiefest conference in 2013, and discovered what thousands upon thousands of children and adults knew before me:  Ms. Jenkins's greatest gift is not her voice or her musicianship, but herself.  She is present with her audience in a way that demands that the members of the audience be present in that moment with her!  I have found this presence to be very rare, and so necessary in a world where we are so often somewhere else:  on our phones, on social media, in our own minds worrying and planning for the future.  I can promise you that no one at Kindiefest was on their smart phones while Ms. Ella Jenkins was on the stage.

I aspire to be more like her in my own endeavors.  She is a treasure!  She is a she-ro.

Ella Jenkins on Wikipedia




(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Glennon Doyle Melton (Momastery)

Glennon Melton is SUCH a truth-teller, she even tells the truth about how hard it is to be a truth-teller, because the world teaches us to lie.  In her writing and speaking, she "makes the unknown known" about the messy, complicated, beautiful parts of life on earth that many of us spend lots of time and effort avoiding.  And exposes the truth that life, as she puts it in this TEDx talk, is "brut-iful."




Check out Glennon's remarkable writing on "Momastery"


(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-Ro: Phyllis Omido

I read this story about Ms. Omido on the NPR website earlier this week.  She is a crusader in her homeland of Kenya for corporate accountability for environmental impact.  Here is her story:

You Don't Want to Mess with an Angry Mother:  Goats and Soda Blog (NPR)

I am so impressed with Ms. Omido's ability to keep fighting for the health and safety of her community in the face of corporate greed and government corruption.  And I am so thankful that the world has she-roes like her!

Phyllis Omido biography - Goldman Environmental Foundation



(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Kyle Schwartz

Ms. Schwartz is a third grade teacher in Denver, Colorado.  The story of how she is a she-ro to her students aired last week on ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/colorado-teacher-shares-heartbreaking-notes-graders/story?id=30368103

Sometimes all it takes to be a hero or she-ro is to ask what someone needs, and then listen to the answer. I hope this story will inspire many more people (me included!) to do just that.



(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Sir Nicholas Winton

Who says that only the good die young? (Well, I guess Billy Joel did in that song, among other people.) Clearly this is not the case, as demonstrated by the example of Sir Nicholas Winton.  This hero rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during the second world war.  And in about a month from now, he will celebrate his 106th birthday!

　
Nicholas Winton on Wikipedia

　

　
(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Melanie Jones

The novelist Jonathan Safran Foer said something about writing/the impetus to create which I really love:
"Writing is the vehicle, and it's the most efficient vehicle, and I can't foresee a better vehicle--for me. But it is not the destination. The destination is this disclosure, this transferring things from the inside to the outside. "

I am reminded of this quote when I read the words of Melanie Jones. Melanie's "vehicle" is making theater--I first discovered her when my good friend Jessica Ammirati (of Going to Tahiti Productions) raved about Melanie's theatrical endeavor, "Endurance." (Inadequate synopsis: A one woman play "about" running, which took place outdoors and required all of the audience to wear headsets, "running" along!)

Personally, I frequently struggle with the call to disclosure in that JSF quote, to make the work that is inside of me and get it out into the world--a world which to a great extent is oblivious and indifferent to it. It can be very difficult.

Because of this, I feel deep admiration for Melanie's determination to do her work. Not only does she create with courage, but she blogs about it with brutally vulnerable honesty. She tells the truth about how simultaneously crazy-making and life-giving it is.  In spite of the fact that my work is almost entirely solitary (after all, it's not like I'm "Miss Lynn and the Lynnettes" or something), I have read Melanie's blog on numerous occasions and been reminded of the value in what we do. I have felt less alone.

Melanie's most recent work, "Canadians are Mean," is happening right now in Brooklyn! If you are in that area, I would strongly encourage you to go see it. Sadly, I will be in Nashville--but I will be keeping up with Melanie's blog and continue to be inspired by her tenacity and bravery. She is my she-ro.


 
(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Tish Scolnik

I don't think I can improve on the excellent biography the folks at "A Mighty Girl" wrote about Ms. Scolnik on their Facebook page, so here it is:

 

 

A Mighty Girl on Facebook:  Tish Scolnik

 

She is using her natural abilities and her specialized training to make the world a better place for so many people! 



 

 

 

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Anne Lamott

How have I gotten a full month into this blog project without writing about Anne Lamott? She is certainly one of my literary she-roes!

I can no longer remember the exact circumstances that encouraged me to read Operating Instructions, but I know it was around 1995 and I was still quite new at being an adult, my grown-up paint not yet totally dry. My mind was blown by how brutally honest she was--and she remains to this day one of the most honest authors I have encountered. In a world that celebrates easy answers and bumper sticker band-aids to cover life's trials, I consider her willingness to tell the messy truth about the complicated realities of life nothing short of heroic. Here is the way she puts it in one passage of her book, Stitches:


Our lives and humanity are untidy: disorganized and careworn. Life on earth is often a raunchy and violent experience. It can be agony just to get through the day.

And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth but when people put a pretty bow on scary things instead of saying, "This is a nightmare. I hate everything. I'm going to go hide in the garage."


 I am so grateful to have the encouragement and laughter her books provide in those moments when I want to hide in the garage (and/or companionship when I am hiding there.)

In spite of being a bestselling author (which role, I presume, brings with it a great deal of pressure to maintain one's status as such), she recently announced on her Facebook page that she would not be writing any more books for the foreseeable future. Her commitment to telling the truth, to being her most authentic self, to not letting others define her (as, for example, a "bestselling author") is astonishing. Twenty years after "meeting" her, she continues to inspire me to endeavor to be brave and true to myself.

Anne Lamott on Wikipedia

Anne Lamott on Facebook


 (Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: David Hyche

My mom brought the story of David Hyche and his ingenious invention to my attention.  Mr. Hyche's daughter, Rachel, lost her sight as a baby.  As she grew, her clever dad invented audible Easter eggs, so she would be able to participate in Easter egg hunts like sighted kids.

The International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (oh yeah, did I mention that David Hyche is also a BOMB TECHNICIAN?!?!?) funded the production of these eggs on  a larger scale, so they can be enjoyed by more kids with visual impairment.

Here is the story as told by two news outlets, the UK Mirror and UNILAD:


Bomb technician dad invents beeping Easter eggs for blind daughter to hunt (Mirror)

Dad Creates Beeping Easter Eggs For Blind Daughter To Hunt (UNILAD)



(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Jason Evans

This story has gotten picked up by numerous online media outlets, so it's possible that it would have come across my Facebook feed eventually, but I was actually one of the very first people to see the photo of the two onesies that Jason Evans posted last Thursday (April 2, 2015).  Here is the story as related by Upworthy:

When one employee saw these onesies, he almost lost it. Here's how the store responded.

Jason is a hero because he saw something wrong, and he DID SOMETHING.  And he didn't just post a photo to social media, he made the effort to bring it to the attention of people with sway over the decisions made in the campus bookstore.  And it made a difference!  What if each of us took the time and energy to do something small when confronted with injustice?

Here's a photo of me and Jason from our college reunion last June.

 

 

Thanks for doing something, Jason.  You are a hero!

 

 

 

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: (Sir) Ken Robinson

Anyone who knows me at all well knows that one of the driving forces behind why I do what I do (which is to say, make music for kids and adults) is my steadfast belief in the unique giftedness and potential of each individual. There are few people I have heard speak with as much authority, passion, and humor on this topic than (Sir) Ken Robinson. I first became aware of him after watching his wonderful TED Talk from 2007 (or 2006?) It is worth the 20 minutes to watch it in its entirety!

　

　

　

　
Fun fact:  Sir Ken was born in Liverpool and went to school with a young (Sir) Paul McCartney!

 Ken Robinson on Wikipedia

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: William Wilberforce

Confession: I am prone to idealize Great Britain, particularly its history and past.   From the comfortable distance of two hundred-plus years, life in Georgian and Elizabethan England can appear fairly idyllic to contemporary viewers--the clothes, the poetry, the art. But the reality for most British citizens during that period was actually quite bleak. For all but the wealthiest members of society, much of life was unsafe and unsanitary. The class system dominated life, and the notion that the life of a common person had equal value as his own was not a notion that would have occurred to a member of the ruling class.

One of the great reformers of this era was William Wilberforce, a superstar among his contemporaries, yet now largely unknown. He and his fellow members of the Clapham Sect are responsible for many social reforms that we take for granted today, such as improved conditions for prisoners, laborers of all sorts, and animals--he founded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), which exists to this day and was the precursor to its American cousin, the ASPCA.

One of the greatest crusades of Wilberforce's life was the abolition of the British slave trade, for which he worked for practically his entire life. The House of Lords passed the Slavery Abolition Act just weeks after his death in July 1833.

I first learned about Wilberforce in Michael Apted's film, "Amazing Grace," and then subsequently the companion book of the same title by Eric Metaxas. Both are excellent and highly recommended!

　

　
William Wilberforce on Wikipedia

 (Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Mrs. Ryor

I shared a piece last week about great teachers, but today I wanted to be more specific. I have been fortunate to have numerous educators in my past and present who have influenced my life tremendously. But when I think of the teacher who changed everything, one name surfaces above the rest: Mrs. Ryor.

Middle school is pretty much the WORST, and I was really terrible at it--not necessarily academically, but in every other possible way. I felt perpetually out of place, had no idea who I really was, and spent way too much time and effort trying to be what I thought other people wanted me to be.

Mrs. Ryor was my sixth grade reading teacher (and later seventh and eighth grades, too). She was the first teacher I ever had look at me and say, "You are a writer." She didn't say it in those direct words, but in the comments and encouragements she gave me over the three years I was privileged to be her student, say it she did. And despite my enormous uncertainty and insecurity, she helped me to see it, as well. Through thirty years, I can trace a direct lineage from the sense of creative identity she fostered in me to the work I do today.

Unfortunately (or possibly not!), any of the writing I did for her during those three years is now lost to the sands of time. However, I do still have my copy of a note she wrote to all of her eighth graders after our performance of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (I played Cassius):

　

Like the lost poems and essays, whatever gift we collectively gave her after the play is long gone from my memory, but the gifts she gave me (and, I have no doubt, my classmates) are ones that shaped me, and that I continue to use today.

Thank you, Mrs. Ryor. You are my she-ro.

　
(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

Real-Life Heroes and She-roes: Autism Advocates

Today is World Autism Day. I know quite a few kids with ASD, and today I would like to highlight the hard work of the adults in their lives who act as advocates for them--and those kids, learning to advocate for themselves. These folks have a hard road in a world that still frequently fears and misrepresents the (incredibly varied) manifestations of autism. I am so proud to know these folks fighting for those with ASD to be seen and treated as gifted, complicated, unique individuals.

One of those folks is my friend Melissa, who blogs about her experiences as an "austism mom" and media professional at The iQ Journals.

This is also a wonderful and pertinent blog entry to read today--I recommend it very highly: No More--A Letter to Suzanne Wright.

　

　

　

　

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

Real-Life Heroes and She-roes: Great Teachers!

Part of South by Southwest in Austin is an education conference--who knew?  (Maybe you did--I didn't!)  NPR compiled stories from some of the attendees about teachers who had made a difference in their own lives.  Check them out!

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Jonas Salk

And while we're on the subject of vaccine-makers, how about hero Jonas Salk?  In the first half of the twentieth century, particularly the decade immediately after the second world war, polio was an enormous threat to the public health.  But less than a century later, polio has largely vanished from the public consciousness, due to Dr. Salk's work to develop a vaccine.

And just like the she-roes and heroes over at the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program, Dr. Salk spent the last years of his life working on a vaccine to protect people against the spread of HIV.  Hero!

Jonas Salk on Wikipedia

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

Real-Life Heroes and She-roes: The Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program

In addition to being my home, Nashville, Tennessee is also the home of world-renowned Vanderbilt University. And Vanderbilt houses one of the sites of the international HIV Vaccine Trials Network, a worldwide collaborative focused on developing vaccines to prevent HIV/AIDS.

It goes without saying that this work, done at Vanderbilt and other places across the globe, is of vital importance. I had the opportunity a few years ago to participate in this research through the program at Vanderbilt. Every woman and man with whom I interacted at the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program was kind, compassionate, and professional. It was an absolute pleasure to be around every one of them. So not only are they doing work that will ultimately save countless lives, but they are making the world a better place in small ways every day for each other and everyone involved with their program.

They are she-roes! They are heroes! I am so honored and grateful to have been able to play even a tiny role in the work they do.

Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program

HIV Vaccine Trials Network
 (Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Malala Yousafzai

People can be she-roes and heroes in small ways--perhaps to only one other person--and also in larger ways, to many people.  Malala Yousafzai is the second kind.  It may seem obvious to point out what a she-ro Malala is--after all, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy for the education of all children.  When she was fifteen years old, assailants shot her in the head to try and silence her voice--but she survived, recovered, and continues to use her voice to tell the world that all children are entitled to education.

She is extraordinary.  She is a she-ro.

 



Malala Yousafzai on Wikipedia

The Malala Fund

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Nini

Today's she-ro was nominated by my friend Lynn! (I promise she is a separate person from me even though we have the same name.) I don't know Nini, so instead of writing about her myself, I asked Lynn's permission to share what she wrote about her friend.  She is truly a she-ro.

　

I met Nini in 2001, when I came to work at a college in central Pennsylvania. Nin was the museum director and a professor of Art History. She is brilliant, a leader in her field, and a phenomenal teacher. Students love love love her--and not because she's a cake walk--because she challenges them and is tough on them and because she loves them (though she'd never admit it).

Anyhow, one day, right after I started my job, I went into the museum, knocked on her door, and sheepishly said, "Nancy? I'm Lynn, I went to Rutgers." (You see, my Nini is a Jersey girl through and through; she went to Rutgers at the same time I did--we were probably studying the art library at the same time!) She was raised just 30 minutes from where I was, so when I went in her office (pronounced AW-fice) we she was thrilled to meet another Jersey girl, and we immediately bonded over the lack of good bagels and take out Chinese food in central PA.

We used to hang out a lot. My husband at the time had a long commute to work, so Nin and I would have after-work martinis (these started at 4, because a girl's gotta relax). We were devilish. (I'll leave it at that since this G-rated.)

Here's the best story of how she is the best friend I could ever have--how she is my fourth sister (I have three biological ones). The Nin has been present for both the best and worst days of my life as a mother, and has been literally by my side, holding me for both of them.

By the time I was ready to have my daughter, Nancy had moved about two hours away and taken another job. My water broke on a Saturday night at 10:00, and we rushed to the hospital. The first person we called was Nin. It was snowing, as it seemed to have been every day that winter, but Nin got in her car and drove to us anyway. While my (now ex) husband took a nap, and I was in labor, Nin made me laugh constantly. We watched the Miss Uruguay pageant (who knew?) and she kept my mind on anything other than the icky pain I was feeling.

When the time came to get that baby into the world, Nin was there--I said by my side, but she was actually at my feet. She stood right next to the midwife and held my leg because the pain and drugs had paralyzed it (temporarily). The Nin was the first to see her--and to this day, she says that she's going to take me to court for custody because she saw her first.

I don't know how I'd have made it through the birth of my child if it weren't for Nini literally being my physical muscle. I don't know how I'd have done it emotionally if she weren't there to love me. She was amazing. As you might imagine, that was the best day of my parenting life. Oh, there have been others, but the birth of your first/only child...well, that's hard to top.

But I also said she was there at the worst moment of my life as a mother. This one's harder to write about.

About seven years into my daughter's life, and almost 14 into the marriage, her dad decided to leave. It was devastating to both of us. My Nini was by my side for that whole thing. She helped me get myself together so I could protect my daughter and myself--but here's the most important thing she did.

It was a summer day almost four years ago now. My ex had come to pick up our daughter for his first weekend with her after we split up. She did not want to go. I did not want her to go either, but it was the agreement. She was literally having a tantrum on the sidewalk for all the neighbors to see, and I was holding myself together as best I could.

After he pulled away, I came in the house and called Nini. She was here in less than an hour and a half (remember, she lived two hours away). She laid on my couch beside me; she held me; she cried with me; she told me I would be okay.

That is a true friend.

There are many many other things to tell you--like how just a few weeks ago she called me out for hurting her feelings. That doesn't sound like a big deal, but it's hard to be told you've hurt someone you love. And after I apologized, she forgave me--FORGAVE ME just like that.

She tells me I'm nuts. She hates my taste in shoes. She laughs at me. And she loves me. And I love her.

That's my Nin.

　

Even though I don't know Nini myself, I want to thank her for her example of she-roic love and friendship.  And I want to thank my friend Lynn for being so brave and sharing such personal stories.  You are both my she-roes!


(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Terry Pratchett

As I write this blog post, the literary world mourns a great hero: (Sir) Terry Pratchett, one of the most popular British writers of all time. He had a tremendous effect in the lives of his readers, and many fans paid tribute to him in the hours and days after his passing. 

Fans of Terry Pratchett tell of the impact he had on their lives 

But Sir Terry was not only a hero because of his extraordinary prose. After he was diagnosed with a form of early-onset Alzheimer's in 2007, he became a generous financial contributor to the cause of Alzheimer's research, and also a leading advocate for awareness of Alzheimer's and dementia.

He will be greatly missed, and the world is better for his having been here with us--a definite sign of a hero.

 Terry Pratchett on Wikipedia

Terry Pratchett Obituary - The Guardian


(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life She-ro: Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton grew up in a world where girls were treated as if they had very little value. In spite of the fact that girls were discouraged from any pursuits beyond the most docile and domestic, Lizzie was bright and brave and accomplished. Still her father, whom she idolized, lamented that she had not been born a boy.

How does a girl grow to know her own worth in the midst of such conditions?

I honestly don't know. It seems to me that any girl who perseveres in believing she CAN--surrounded by an environment which perpetually insists that she CAN'T--is already a she-ro.

But Elizabeth Cady Stanton didn't just know her own worth, or just want other girls and women to know their own. She spent her life working to change the laws of the United States so that our voices might be heard with that most fundamental of all democratic rights: the right to vote. Throughout her life she wrote and spoke and traveled the country, withstanding biting criticism and derision at every step, working to change the hearts and minds of Americans so that future generations of women would finally enjoy the rights that are ours.

She did not live to see the prize she sought. Elizabeth died in 1902, just shy of her 87th birthday, and the 19th Amendment recognizing women's right to vote was not ratified until 1920. But because of the vision, courage and stamina of Mrs. Stanton and her fellow soldiers in the battle for women's suffrage, the United States became a freer place. I, for one, am so very grateful to this important she-ro!

(Though I had heard her name in the past, I never knew very much about Mrs. Stanton until I watched the documentary, "Not For Ourselves Alone," by previously featured hero Ken Burns. I highly recommend this look at ECS and her close friend, Susan B. Anthony!)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton on Wikipedia

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Ken Burns

In this endeavor to highlight "heroes and she-roes," people I think have in some way made the world better, I feel a certain kinship with filmmaker Ken Burns. Though I am using only these blog posts as my humble medium, Mr. Burns and his collaborators make films about Americans who have had an impact on our country--often epic in their scope and depth. These films tell stories of who we are as a nation through the stories of those who helped to make us so.

In a world of ever-shrinking attention spans, his films are long, involved, detailed, rejecting the notion of easy narrative and exploring the complications and contradictions that are woven into our collective history. In so doing, these films give us a truer picture that we can get from a Facebook post or a series of tweets. They require engagement of their viewers, and give knowledge, insight, humor and compassion in return.

While he is best known for his lengthy reflections on giant topics in American history (the excellent recent series "The Roosevelts" lasted 14 hours), my favorite film bearing Mr. Burns's name is a short (90 minute) piece called, "The Address."  It concerns a unique school in Vermont and a group of young men and teachers who, though none of them are famous, are definitely heroes and she-roes in my view. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Ken Burns on the Internet Movie Database

Ken Burns on Wikipedia 
(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Seth Godin

The first time I encountered Seth Godin was hearing him interviewed on one of my favorite radio programs, "Bullseye with Jesse Thorn," in which Jesse described Seth as a "marketing guru." And while this is undoubtedly true, it gives only the slightest glimpse into the work that Seth does.

In his writing, Seth constantly challenges the notion of "business as usual." He is a tireless advocate for the power of a unique vision, of personal connection and treating one's audience with respect and dignity. A great example of this point-of-view is this recent blog post. I have taken great encouragement from him to pursue creative work in ways that make sense to me, and not to succumb to fear of how it will be perceived by "conventional wisdom."

In that conversation with Jesse Thorn, Seth shared his view that every person is an artist. I found this idea so beautiful and resonant, that I wrote a song about it: "Beautifully (Then It's Art)" -- hear it here on MissLynn.com.

　

Seth Godin on Wikipedia

Seth's Blog
(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real-Life Hero: Fred Rogers

The heroism that Fred Rogers displayed throughout his life is so enormously apparent, and has been written about by so many, that it seems superfluous to try to do it any justice here. Though perhaps it is worth mentioning, in this series of blog posts leading up to the release of my "Heroes and She-roes" CD, that there has been no other person whose work in media has had such a profound influence over my own. If there were a single thesis I tried to impart through my work, it would be the one with which Mr. Rogers bid his television neighbors farewell after each visit: "You make this day special by just your being you."

"Fred Rogers, late 1960s" by KUHT - http://digital.lib.uh.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15195coll38&CISOPTR=240&CISOBOX=1&REC=5. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Literary She-ro: Harriet the Spy

Happy World Book Day! :)

A Real-Life She-ro: A Mum and A&E Nurse

The exercise of highlighting forty different instances of real-life heroes and she-roes is an interesting one for me. It forces me to answer the question, "What makes someone a s/hero?"

One of the main qualities I have identified in those I would set apart as heroic is that they are doing and saying things that few others (if anyone) are doing and saying. In big and small ways, they are speaking up and taking action on behalf of what is right and noble, even if theirs are the only voices and hands doing so.

I don't really know anything about the mum who wrote this blog, other than what is contained directly in the post itself (note for Americans:  an "A&E" nurse is what we would call an "ER" nurse)--but it is more than enough to know she is a she-ro. I could say more about why, but I think her words and actions speak for themselves.

"Not Always Learning" Blog: Was Bra-ced For a Different Reaction
 
(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

A Real Life Hero: Oliver Sacks

I first encountered Oliver Sacks in 1995, when I read his then newly-published An Anthropologist on Mars. The neurological circumstances faced by the individuals he profiled in that book (and, as I came to discover, in much of his other writing) were strange and fascinating. Yet what I ultimately found most compelling in these accounts was the dignity and humanity with which he approached his subjects. Though the conditions afflicting these women and men doubtlessly set them apart from the mainstream, at no point did Dr. Sacks treat them as victims, or as "other." The compassionate words he wrote about them revealed their author's eyes and heart, which saw these people not as broken manifestations of pathology, but whole beings inherently worthy of deep respect.

"9.13.09OliverSacksByLuigiNovi" by Luigi Novi. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Dr. Sacks is now 81 years old, and recently wrote a piece in The New York Times about his experience of this last chapter of his life, as he faces the conclusion of his decade-long struggle with cancer. As I read his beautiful words, I shed tears of sadness for the fact that those of us here on Earth will shortly be losing this extraordinary man--but also tears of gratitude that he was here with us to begin with.

Oliver Sacks on Wikipedia

OliverSacks.com


(Have a real-life hero or she-ro to nominate for this blog? Let me know at misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com!)

Spring 2015: Real Life Heroes and She-roes

For the past two years, each spring I have used this blog to focus on good words (Good Words 2013) (Good Words 2014). In 2015, I have decided to do something a bit different, and spotlight instead forty examples of good people. Later this year I will be releasing a new CD called, "Heroes and She-roes," as well as presenting a special concert with the title, "We Need a Hero!" In anticipation of these, I want to use this blog to lift up some individuals who have been real-life heroes and she-roes to me.

Starting next week, watch this space to read about women and men who have inspired me with their heroic words and deeds!  And if you have someone you would like to nominate to be featured on the blog, please let me know!  misslynn [at] misslynn [dot] com