As we approach the mid-point of Women’s History Month 2023, LOF would like to celebrate the innumerable women-identifying writers, artists, activists and others who are telling our stories while making history. Stories can be shared in a variety of ways, through narrative, art or music, as well as through the many important organizations that help... Continue Reading →
Finding Friends First
When I turned 30, I felt like I had reached a huge milestone and I began reflecting and evaluating where I was in life personally and professionally. I was two years out of business school and enjoying my work in Chicago at the Quaker Oats Co. Professionally, I was in a good place. On the... Continue Reading →
Unidos: One Justice’s Insights on Inclusion
I recently had the opportunity to attend an event with Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the featured speaker. The crowd was largely made up of distinguished lawyers, businesspeople, and university officials. But the Justice wasn’t interested in speaking to just them. Her focus was on the small group of students in the audience.... Continue Reading →
Standing Together
American politics is extremely divisive these days, and the ticking up of tensions on all sides of the political spectrum has led to an alarming increase in senseless and devastating violence against historically marginalized groups in the United States. The need for allies has never been stronger. With the approaching Rosh Hashanah holiday this week,... Continue Reading →
When Action Leads to Hope
The strongest people are those who win battles we know nothing about. Unknown Leslie Weirich's son Austin had so much going for him. He was a standout student, athlete, and leader in high school and then went on to play football at Wabash College. In college he received an academic scholarship, managing to balance football... Continue Reading →
📚Friendship Lessons from a Dad in a Tutu
I met my friend Patrick Riccards in 2006 when we were both working for Lipman Hearne, a boutique marketing firm serving mission-driven organizations. We had different areas of expertise, yet collaborated on a handful of client accounts. I've cultivated many workplace friendships over the years, each an opportunity to learn and grow. Patrick approached challenges... Continue Reading →
Celebrating International Friendship Day 2022
Any day can be an excuse to celebrate a special friendship, but July 30th was designated by the United Nations as International Friendship Day to recognize the "importance of friendship...in the lives of human beings around the world." While we at LOF advocate making every day about friendship, we strongly support the UN's goal of... Continue Reading →
Camp Season
Even if you've never been to summer camp, you can probably imagine how quickly bonds form when you're very young and living among your peers in tight conditions. My first sleep-away camp experience was at a YWCA camp when I was seven years old in a magical environment, located deep in the woods near the... Continue Reading →
Playing it Forward
Looking back on the trajectory of girls’ participation in sports this Women’s History Month, we are amazed at how things have changed since Title IX was enacted 50 years ago. Sara shared in an earlier post that we were part of the first girls’ soccer team at our high school back in the 1980s, when... Continue Reading →
📚Mapping Emotions with Brown’s Atlas of the Heart
Brené Brown seems to be everywhere these days. She’s written five #1 New York Times bestsellers and appeared in her own Netflix special. She hosts two popular podcasts and has an 8-episode series in the works with HBO Max. Clearly, the Houston-based shame and vulnerability researcher has tapped into a public need to hear what... Continue Reading →