The Ray Brothers, a Sad Story of Ignorance and Intolerance

Ricky Ray would have been 42 years old today. Three decades after he and his family were treated unimaginably poorly, not many know their story, but they deserve to be remembered. The ignorance, intolerance, and shameful cruelty these people were subjected to is a lesson that should be studied to be never repeated. Photo […]

Happy Birthday to the President That Makes Us Smile

Happy 16th birthday to Robby Novak, also known as the “Kid President.” What many don’t know is that Robby suffers from osteogenisis imperfecta, also known as “Brittle bone disease.” His sister Lexi also suffers from the disease, and the two have been raised by adoptive parents. Robby has broken over 90 bones, and had 15 […]

Steve Prefontaine: Short Life, Long Legacy

Today would have been the 68th birthday of Oregon running legend Steve Prefontaine. Sadly, he only lived to the age of 24, as a car accident on May 29, 1975 took his life. The impact of his life is still felt in Oregon and far beyond. Steve Prefontaine was born January 25, 1951 in the […]

Neil Diamond: More Than Just Some Catchy Tunes

Happy birthday to Neil Diamond, who turns 78 today. He has sold over 130 million records, had 37 top forty singles, and 16 top ten singles. As impressive as all of that is, there is much more to his story. Neil Diamond was born January 24, 1941 in Brooklyn to Jewish refugees whose families […]

Ed Roberts and His Fight For Civil Rights

Happy birthday to Ed Roberts, who would have turned 80 today. Few have done more to help people with disabilities and special needs than him. He contracted polio at age 14. He barely survived. He attended school by phone for several years. When he returned to school, he was often stared at and mocked. A […]

Inauguration Day: A Reminder of What America Set Out to Be

Six years ago today, I was lucky enough to attend the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. I was leading a group of students, but it was me that learned the most that day. Going to inauguration is not for the weak or the only semi-interested. It is D.C. In January. The temperature was in […]

“The Greatest” Wasn’t Always Loved by Everyone

Happy birthday to Muhammad Ali, who would have turned 77 today. His story and relationship with America are complex and worth pondering. In 1967, Muhammad Ali was still known as Cassius Clay, and he refused to enter into the United States Military. He went to his scheduled induction in Houston, but when his name was […]

Ronnie Milsap: An Incredible Journey

76 years ago today, music legend Ronnie Milsap was born. His story of perseverance in overcoming a deck that was severely stacked against him to become one of the most successful artists of all time is both remarkable and inspiring. On January 16, 1943 in the poor farming Community of Robbinsville, North Carolina, Ronnie Lee […]

100 Years Ago Today: The Great Molasses Flood of Boston

100 years ago today, the North End of Boston was bursting with life and vitality like so many other American cities of the time. Factories busting, immigrants hustling, and everyone was thankful and happy that World War One, the deadliest war in human history had ended. All of that changed in an instant……one that could […]

Pushing Through the Mountain

On what would have been his 90th birthday, I find myself reflecting upon my last visit to the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington D.C. a few years ago. The monument, the man, and the Movement are too often misunderstood. The monument fittingly shows him to emerge from a mountain. The mountain represents the […]