leadership

VetWow’s Short Podcasts for MST Survivors, Friends and Family

Susan Avila Smith Military Sexual Trauma, like PTSD another “invisible wound,” is unfortunately more prevalent in the military than we would want to believe, though little discussed officially. It’s different though when combatants get together who have experienced it. Among female service members in particular, it is all too often a common experience; and whether [...]

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In a whisper…

by Anthony P Johnson

It is important to remember that democracy is more fragile than communism, socialism, oligarchy or a totalitarian government because democracy can dissipate in a whisper when those at the seat of its government are inept and corrupt. Democracy will become extinct if we continue to misinterpret among the citizens derision, hate and destruction for freedom [...]

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Audie Murphy on Getting Over Combat

by Lily Casura

Audie Murphy, in his day, was the most decorated American soldier from World War II, winning the Medal of Honor, among 27 others. He also famously told a reporter, “You know, you never get over combat. I don’t think you ever do.” (Quoted in Chaim F. Shatan, M.D.’s famous text, “The Grief of Soldiers,” from [...]

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ZCD Foundation Interview

by Brooke Leigh Sheldon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (21.4MB)

Zee Becket (3rd from left) In Gao, Sierra Leone “Zee Becket Watched a CNN Special – And Changed 14,000 Lives” September 20, 2009 In 2008 Zainab Beckett saw a special report on CNN. A small boy begged for his life before a group of soldiers. When the child turned, they shot him. They killed [...]

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Dear Mr. Very Tall Homeless Man,

by T. Parker Vollmer

Dear Mr. Very Tall Homeless Man, You should know I’m pretty burned with you right now. Hurt, even. You know that I know of your existence on my construction project, after hours. I haven’t minded. You’ve been respectful. And I have only had to move your things into an unfinished closet a couple of times. [...]

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Are you ready to start a movement?

by Brooke Leigh Sheldon

We cherish the leader. We lionize the one who steps forward, who grabs the flag running ahead yelling “Follow me!”. However, if no one follows the mission is never accomplished, the goal is never met, the victory is never won. The leader is successful because of the leaders that step forward to follow! Please share [...]

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Zero Tolerance – Seriously, how do we get there?

by Brooke Leigh Sheldon

Everywhere you look, all over this country, we are implementing “Zero Tolerance” polices for bullying and/or intolerance. Yet the policies are being implemented and ignored. People advocate them and criticize them, demand them and reject them. But Zero Tolerance can work and does work. Why, then, are there so many examples of it not working? [...]

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A Change of Heart

by Brooke Leigh Sheldon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (16.6MB)

Will Rogers said, â€œWe can’t all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.â€
And, while I think Will had a valid point, Holly Nearâ€™s song â€œChange of Heartâ€ offers a perceptive I believe Will would agree with, to paraphrase it: Our hearts and minds change when we participate in empowering the lives of those around us. In addition, when we observe others acts of kindness we are further inspired. So, I believe Will would agree with me when I say the two roles, hero and curb sitter, in his statement shift and revolve many times in the cycles of our lives.

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What each of us has to offer is enough

by Elizabeth Wescott

What I do is little. I do it at home, each day. I do it in an hour’s time, more or less. The results aren’t easy to measure or define. That what I do is all of these things, is part of what makes it important to tell about. What I do is use some [...]

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Volunteering for Disaster: Interview with American Red Cross volunteer M. Ann Smith

by Brooke Leigh Sheldon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:19 — 33.6MB)

As a member of the American Red Cross National Disaster Human Resource Team, M. Ann Smith has been deployed to 16 national disasters in 15 states. She provided relief to victims of 9/11 and Katrina as well as innumerable tornadoes, floods, tropical storms, forest fires and home fires. Although officially retired from her teaching job at Chadron State College in Nebraska, Ann is never unoccupied, or without and adventure in her back pocket.

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