Turning a Negative Into a Positive

With COVID 19, I know many of us have been experiencing some very tough times.  We have faced the dangers to our health and our friends and family’s health that have come with the pandemic, and we’ve also experienced the negative economic circumstances that have emerged in our nation and community.

I know one thing that has been tough for me is the social isolation experienced. I miss seeing my friends and family, going to meetings, and participating in person in my networking group. If you had asked me before the pandemic hit if I were more of an extrovert or introvert, I would tell you that I lean to more of the introverted side of the spectrum. But these three months have revealed to me that I am in fact an extrovert, and greatly enjoy and thrive off being around people.

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13,000 Saved!

One of my favorite animal rescue groups in our area is the GoNorth Animal Transport Collaborative. Since 2012 they have rescued over 13,000 dogs from rural East Tennessee shelters that have high euthanasia rates and transported them to Northern states, where the dogs are adopted out.

When you have a second, please watch this short video about the history of the rescue:

And the main point of this post:

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An Interview With Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero

 

Madeline Rogero was elected the first woman Mayor of Knoxville in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015 with no opposition on the ballot. I’ve known Mayor Rogero for over 10 years and remember her first run for mayor back in 2003. We’ve had lunch several times over the years and I was honored that she agreed to be interviewed by me for my newsletter.

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Talking with a Legend- An Interview with the Reverend Harold Middlebrook

Reverend Harold Middlebrook

I sat down with Reverend Harold Middlebrook in mid-November to interview him about his life and its many rich experiences.

For those that don’t know him, Reverend Middlebrook is a legend within the civil rights movement, having spent considerable time working for change in his hometown of Memphis, then later in Atlanta and Knoxville, TN. He was a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was with Dr. King when he was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.

Reverend Middlebrook has a wealth of knowledge and history about happenings and I’ve been blessed to become friends with him over the past several years.

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An Interview with Loida Velazquez, On How We Can Help the People of Puerto Rico

                        Loida Velazquez

I have been very moved and disturbed with the horrific carnage that Hurricane Maria left on the people of Puerto Rico. Like many Americans I’ve been wondering what I can do to help the efforts that are being done to help alleviate some of the pain the people there are feeling.

My good friend Loida Velazquez, who is very active in the community in Knoxville, was born in Puerto Rico and is leading local East Tennessee efforts to support the people there. I interviewed her to get her take on the situation and what we can do to help.

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