I stood anxiously with the others. We all waited, silently, many staring down at bright little screens, to board the long elevator down to the metro. None of us looked at each other, and the man with the sign didn’t look at us either. He didn’t call out, forcing us to acknowledge his existence, pushing … More Angels in “The Swamp”
Life has been fast. Life has been full. Life has been busy. I’ve been building some dreams. I’ve been following some leads. I’ve been writing up a storm. I sit in a coffee shop downtown and I watch an actual storm through the window. Cars splash in puddles. Lights reflect on the pavement. We’re all … More Hangover
During our junior year of college, my roommate, Tiffany, made a short film for her digital arts class as a first attempt at video editing. Knowing my penchant for acting foolish, she asked me to be in it. The film was titled, “…It Was Okay,” and chronicled two women’s very different days—one terrible and one … More The Secrets of Returning
She was a girl about 11 years old. She was walking with who I assumed was her mother. She had a backpacking pack strapped on to her as she walked up a steep hill in her neighborhood. I imagined she was preparing for an upcoming camping trip, possibly her first hike into the true wilderness. … More From Girl Power to Women’s Empowerment: “You Can’t Retire from this Movement”
“I’m really an artist,” he stated, “I’m just getting my PhD in developmental economics on the side.” Over a year ago, I was on a date with a man I could best describe as “that guy who has one too many of his shirt buttons undone,” as he made this declaration to me. At the … More We’re Not Impostors
It had been a rough stretch. It was Thanksgiving and I was over 2,000 miles away from home with a freshly broken heart and a heap of city stress. But it was a sunny day and I was determined to seize it. I pulled on my black tights, hot pink workout shorts, a layering of … More Long Live Gary Fisher: A Tribute to True Fresh Starts
My toes were a combination of numb and painful. It was below freezing on a Friday night in the District of Columbia, and I was spending it walking around Capitol Hill talking to people living life unsheltered. I handed Dan and Jenny each a cup of hot chocolate, as they playfully teased me for the … More Conversations with God: Being a Servant
I slinked outside into the night to call my mom. She asked how my trip had been and I swallowed hard and told her that it had been great. We discussed birds and alligators and the weather. And the whole time I just kept hoping that she’d see straight through me and ask me what … More Conservation Efforts for Slow Thinking: Lessons from Everglades National Park
I’m a Californian. But, for over two years, I’ve resided in D.C. This city has widened my opportunities, and provided me a sense of community. Yet, during this time, I’ve lived and thrived within its borders while retaining my vote in California. Last month, realizing the fallacy in doing so, I finally let go. I … More Your Vote Counts Toward Ending Homelessness
“Everyone here is valuable,” she said to me, “Everyone plays an important role.” I could tell that she meant it. It wasn’t just one of those nice things you say to try to make everyone feel like a winner. I looked into the eyes of this woman one Sunday at the New York Avenue Presbyterian … More I Saw God Today
ROUGH OUTLINES 