I was honored to be asked to introduce the 2009 graduating class from Nashville OIC (opportunities industrialization center), a not-for-profit center designed to provide GED and soft skills education to ANYONE who wants it. 117 adults who defied odds, social stigma, economic condition, or whatever obstacle prevented them from graduating high school the first go around walked … [Read more...]
Twitterfried [Reaching Twitter Burn Out]
Posted by Chrysty Beverley Fortner. I'm fully engaged in the assault on social media. I'm a warrior. I love it. I have a website to maintain for work, two blogs, a LinkedIn profile, a Facebook account, two groups, a cause and two fan pages; I text often, I live on email and Blackberry, I message through myEmma and now I “tweet.” However, I don't yet see the true value to … [Read more...]
“As If” vs. “What If”
Posted by contributing writer Chrysty Beverley Fortner. I used to live in the land of "what if." It's not a very enchanting place to be, but so many of us end up there time and time again. Let’s compare two stories of far away lands: "What If;" where the princess never kisses her prince and the knight never slays his dragon to “As If;” where the princess is already making … [Read more...]
Breaking Through the Language Barrier
I spent the weekend working a Latino Rodeo and Festival at the fairgrounds. Good thing I paid attention in Señora Alarid’s class, otherwise I’d been more overwhelmed than I was. I was in charge of getting the folks (who paid a GOOD price to get into the festival) to sign up para la rifa del carro (for the car raffle) on Sunday. I pieced it all together and even remembered a … [Read more...]
Seek and Ye Shall Find
My father-in-law used to say, "The best time to search for a job is when you have one" and I tend to agree. I'm happy with my current career choice and my accomplishments, but I am not naive enough to think that I am indispensable. None of us are safe as so many have come to realize this past year. But just because I'm grateful for my job, doesn't mean I'm going to rest on … [Read more...]