Do you consider yourself violent. Most of us don't. We think of violence as something physical, explosive, something other people do.So did I when I set off decades ago to pursue my doctorate in international peace and conflict. But what I discovered is that every day most of us participate in acts of violence. Not because we're bad people, but because the systems in which we live make it almost impossible not to.In 2014, I founded Vessel, one of the world's first tech- enabled reusable to-go foodware syste ...

Education & Economic Opportunity in Rural Areas - Lower education levels in rural areas, particularly Appalachia, lead to lower-paying jobs and increased reliance on social programs like SNAP, where 21% of households in central Appalachia rely on SNAP benefits, 10% higher than the national average [10][11] - The evolving job market requires technical training and education to avoid worker displacement due to automation, with up to 30% of hours worked across the US at risk of being automated [6][7] - A bachelor's degree provides a path to long-term stability, with individuals earning on average $40,500 more over their lifetime compared to those with only a high school diploma [9] Higher Education Accessibility & Impact - Only 26% of residents in Appalachia have a bachelor's degree, compared to the national average of 40%, highlighting a significant gap in access to higher education [1][8] - Regional universities can play a crucial role in community development by connecting students with local industries and promoting civic engagement [15][16] - Education should provide individuals with the tools to imagine a life beyond just making ends meet, fostering a sense of possibility and community growth [4][13][18] Strategies for Improvement - Universities and institutions should enhance technical education, engage with civic leaders, and tie education to real economic opportunities in rural areas [17] - Expanding degree equivalencies for work and life experiences can make education more accessible [17] - Reimagining education and recognizing the value of lived experiences can rebuild belief, spark hope, and break the cycle of limitations in rural communities [18][19]

May 9th was the day my life began. As I lay on the operating table, groggy listening to London Bridge by Fergie while silently searing at my ablated heart muscle. I found myself unable to take my eyes off the monitor displaying the electrical contractions under the guidance of my physiologist's hand.And in that moment, I not only witnessed the taming of the spasms that had haunted me for the previous six years, but also the realization that my life would be mine again. As someone with an invisible illness, ...

Whether you like it or not, each and every single person sitting here today is addicted to porn. Whether you are addicted to your screens or have really ever watched television, you intake more porn than you may realize. Let me set up a scene for you.The year is 2008. You're sitting in front of your television screen when you hear a very familiar, angelic song being played over top of commercial. Your attention is drawn as the camera zooms in on a young African child's face and a voiceover comes on.Don't yo ...

I never thought I'd be the one to stand before a crowd and speak. Strike that. I revel in a crowd.In all honesty, I like to hear myself speak. But I never thought I'd be the one to stand and speak in verse. Not carefully curated pros, but rather a story in lyrics.My own hand did compose. And as I stand and as I speak, forcing rhymes, knees so weak, I have this nagging sense you'll all soon be booing. For I fear I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing.I hadn't a clue what I was doing when I sat before a shr ...

Stress has been a dominating force in my life from the earliest I can remember. For me, perfectionism has always been one of my main stressors. My mom used to ground me from hair ties because I would throw fits when my hair wasn't laid perfectly.I used to sleep on top of my covers so I wouldn't wrinkle the sheets. and I would cry if one letter I wrote doing homework didn't look right. It's been hard reflecting on my past because I know I've adapted a better mindset, but I've struggled figuring out what has ...

Imagine a single thread thinner than a strand of air yet strong enough to hold the weight of an elephant. That spider silk. Now picture a spider tirelessly weaving its web.Then boom, a storm tears through it. In a moment, all that effort is destroyed. If we were in that position, we might be devastated, overwhelmed by the loss.But what does the spider do. It doesn't just sit there morning. It doesn't hesitate.It simply start again, stronger, wiser, and better prepared for the next challenge. That right ther ...

Something you should know about me is that I am far from an expert skier. Regardless, I do still enjoy a nice ski retreat, sitting at the lodge, drinking my hot cocoa. And I do enjoy skiing, I promise. If you count the bunny slopes, that is, you know, the mountains that are about as steep as the floor you're sitting on. A few weeks ago, my friends took me on a ski retreat and they decided I was ready to conquer the blue slopes or the next level of difficulty. I did not feel ready to conquer the blue slopes. ...

Imagine you're on a tennis court, racket in hand, and a ball is hurtling straight towards you, but you hear your phone ring off court. Do you lose focus, or do you keep your eyes on the ball and think about winning the point. There's something about the world that we live in today that makes it far too easy for us to get distracted.We often focus on things that matter less and lose a lot of time in the process. I grew up in Paris in the 80s. Every week, my family and I would pile into a car, zoom through bu ...

Fundada em 1955 no Morro da Caixa, em Florianópolis, a Embaixada Copa Lord é uma das escolas de samba mais tradicionais de Santa Catarina e carrega uma história construída pela força da comunidade, pela resistência cultural e pela paixão pelo samba. Muito além do carnaval, a escola se afirma como um espaço vivo de memória, identidade e pertencimento, onde a arte é ferramenta de união e expressão coletiva. Ao longo de décadas, a Copa Lord transformou a passarela em espetáculo e consolidou seu nome como símbo ...