Dear Student Leader, Enjoy the final days of your holiday break. The time to connect with friends and family can serve as a refreshment between semesters. I thought about you as I ran through downtown Sacramento and across the Golden Bridge. Did you make New Year’s resolutions? Want better grades this term? Maybe, for you, building muscle or losing weight is the goal this January. This letter is part of my commitment to growth through writing: in 2026, I will write more than

I don’t know how many more days, months, or years I have left to live. The doctor says, I’m in excellent shape, but life is unpredictable. I am writing this letter to you for your 15th birthday, in case death comes sooner than expected. Sure, I could have shared these words with you in a private setting. However, much of your time is spent online and on screens these days. I want to see more of you around the house, but you can read this letter in your favorite place at home-

Creativity is not limited by time and space; it lives in us and thrives throughout our natural environment. Kuumba is Kiswahili for creativity. It is the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, necessary for innovative solutions to problems regardless of the season. In recognition of Kuumba, I give this offering. Leaves on the ground   We arrived at 6:45 PM. My family parked across the street from my coworker’s home. We crossed the street, found the address, and climbed the stairs to the

Hip-hop lives. During car rides and school days, the music and culture of hip-hop can encourage awareness and prevent suicide.. Nino Paid’s song Joey Story  offers us an example. I can’t front. Nino Paid’s music is not on my playlist. Here’s a brief story about how I learned of this artist. The drive for awareness. My teenage son opened the passenger’s door and sat in the front seat. He fastened his seat belt, and we pulled away from the curb. Within seconds, he connected his

Politics aside, we must appreciate life. For white conservatives, black radicals, and everyone else on the racialized and political spectrum, life is short. In the last two weeks, Charlie Kirk, Demartravion “Trey” Reed, and Mayumi Narita died. Of the three names in the previous sentence, you may only know of one. Before the incident in Utah, I didn’t know anything about Charlie Kirk. After he died, I learned of his similarities to another influencer who shares the same first

For two months, I’ve withheld sins. I’m not Catholic, so I can’t go to a priest. I’ve prayed, meditated, and exercised, but the feelings...

Minutes before my family left for vacation, we stopped in one of the airport’s electronic stores. My youngest wanted a pair of headphones. While he browsed the overpriced gadgets, a salesperson talked to me. He asked, “Where you headed?” “Chicago,” I replied. “Is that home for you?” “Um, something like that. We were born there but…”  “Oh, I get it. You’ve moved away, and it no longer feels like home.” The salesperson finished my sentence. I smiled and nodded as my son asked a

Dear Kaz, Twelve years old! That's a big one. It's not as big as the dinosaurs you love, but you're one step closer to becoming a teenager. It's a pleasure to see you growing into a young man. I am impressed with your discipline to swim nearly every day of the week. With every practice, you're getting stronger and faster. Your mother and I enjoyed seeing you compete in the Junior Olympics meet. While you didn't win a medal this year, we know you did your best. Doing your best

“Slow down so your soul can catch up.” I read the advertisement for a “Wine and Spirits” store as I jogged towards Bahamas Street. The phrase made me smile as I shifted paces and contemplated the message We often rush through life without savoring the small, meaningful moments. Meditation and reflection are critical tools for sustainable leadership success. Hours before my run along Bakersfield, California’s blocks and parkways, I stood in a classroom with student leaders at

Did Baldwin get it right? In James Baldwin’s book, The Fire Next Time , he writes, “Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.” Baldwin suggests our fears of death shape our drives, decisions, and divisions. Life is often u

How do you define liberation? Is it the ability to do whatever you choose? Perhaps you see this question through a spiritual lens and...

We want to stay hard. The barbaric practices of castration during and after chattel slavery in the United States remain ingrained in the...

His preparation to conquer mountains began at birth. When I first held him, I accepted the responsibility and joy of raising a son. Without a manual, I acquired the skills, grasped the knowledge, and made mistakes. Although my father provided a reliable example, I had to learn how to raise my children. I changed diapers, attended doctor’s appointments, showed up for school functions, and transported them to sports activities. My dad offered guidance with his presence during m

Dear Emery, You will turn 13 in three days. I am writing this letter a few days beforehand, in the early hours, while the house is still asleep. “Here comes the big guy.” You know the context of the quote; I won’t embarrass you. However, I want you to understand that this is a big year. Much has already happened. We moved back to the States. You started a new school, earned your place on the high honor roll, and joined a football club. The other day, I asked you, “What is a m

Six years in a country with more sand than sidewalks made my children appreciate concrete. After moving from the Caribbean islands to Sacramento, we visited nearly every skate park during our first few weeks. Before their skateboard and scooter wheels touched the ramps of Tyre Nichols Park, I read about its significance. The city renamed the Regency Community Skate Park to honor Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old killed by Memphis police in 2023. His family advocated for justice a

I stepped out of the office and picked up my sister’s call. When she answered, I could tell from her voice that something was off.  She explained how she broke a finger while walking her dog. The pup got excited at seeing another dog and yanked the leash while she tied her shoe. His four legs and her ring finger went in opposite directions.  I listened as she explained her frustration and how the injury would restrict her activities. After failing to console her and making it

Why should we push toward discomfort when our environments encourage the opposite? Comfort has become our default setting. On every corner, a fast-food joint offers us a hot, convenient, and delicious meal. With the tap of a credit card, we can avoid cooking and fill our stomachs with empty calories. Although the food tastes good, it lacks nutritional value. Our phones offer countless hours of entertainment without pressing a button. Flashing our faces before the screen unloc

I left home at 4:00 AM. With almost two hours to spare before my flight, I arrived at the airport. There was no need to check luggage for...

"Artificial intelligence helps us imagine who we are.” I listened as my coworker shared ideas from her conference presentation. After our meeting ended, I scribbled her words on a notebook to review later. How do you make use of AI? Are you hesitant or jumping in to use the tools without inhibition? On some levels, I’ve been reluctant and skeptical about AI’s shortcuts to research, productivity, and creativity. I use Grammarly for editing assistance, but outsourcing human thi

Surprised, upset, or elated? How did you feel after Super Bowl LIX? I hope you came out ahead if you put money or a friendly bet on the game. The day before the Eagles spread their wings and soared over the Chiefs, I huddled in a park with ten men. One of them asked me if I was a sports fan. I shook my head no and answered the next question. They asked about my work and hobbies. It was my first time with the men who exercise daily together in various locations around the neig