 To know me is to know that Gwendolyn Brooks is one of my favorite poets. I fell in love with her work as a child when I first heard "We Real Cool" and we became common-law later on once I memorized "The Mother". To this day, "Beverly Hills, Chicago" remains one of my favorite poems. Brooks' distinctive way of bringing words together captures sentiments that I may not have been able to capture without her, and this quote is an example of that. At a time when the nation is so divided, let's reflect on this.
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 Although the author of the above comment might be in question, the sentiment of it is unquestionable for me. This statement largely attributed to Albert Einstein, has an authorship which has been widely disputed. And with good reason, Einstein hardly seemed like the type to cast everybody as a genius. Beyond that, I shared this because it speaks to me profoundly about the importance of recognizing the inherent value in others. And of recognizing that differences are not deficiencies. We all have our own unique configuration of gifts, talents, skills and abilities to share with the world. So often I find that we create rubrics to measure value that tend to minimize the contributions of others. I just wanted to take the time to remind myself not to. And in doing so, I figured that I might remind you too. Love you all!
 I am not a catholic, nor am I the biggest fan of Mother Teresa, but this sentiment from her is invaluable to me. So often, we classify poverty in a very linear way and by external measures. But there is an unfathomable, internal poverty that people, especially children, feel when they are abandoned. I've had some conversations around this recently and this quote came to mind. I felt led to share it. Love you all!
 TL Cross, one of my friends from LaGuardia High School, is one of the best conversationalists I have ever met. Once in conversation, he casually mentioned Howard Thurman. He explained that his father was blessed to have Thurman as a Professor and that he had even come over to have dinner with their family. I was so intrigued by some of the topics discussed over dinner that I knew I needed to research Thurman further. What an incredible human being he was! Not only was he one of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mentors, but he was a powerful scholar, clergyman, author and community leader. Perhaps best known for his epic tome "Jesus and the disinherited", Thurman was committed to a Christianity that would "live for the weak as well as the strong -- for all peoples whatever their color, whatever their caste." I am so moved by many of his sentiments and reflections. In this time where many of us are contemplating how much COVID has slowed the entire world down, his meditation on slowing down feels especially relevant. Read more to see the rest.
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