Monday, October 22, 2012

Hope in the Hard Stuff

Every so often an assignment comes along that at first you don't want to take; it'll be too too emotional, too challenging. But you say yes and when you do, you experience inspiration, courage and service. That's what this story was like for me. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, this story is one of many the local newspaper ran. And I'm glad they did.
Jill1
Jill Moriello

October 16, 2012

Survivor's recovery a sign of hope

“Not the looks from strangers, I could handle those,” Moriello said. “But the stares from my family members — seeing their concern, that was hard.” 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Finding Courage to Enter the Political Discussion

As it happened, I'd been thinking about the presidential election a lot. Chewing. Brooding. Wondering how I could contribute, knowing if I did I could be opening a can of worms with friends and strangers a like. Then I read about Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban as a result. Her courage far surpassed mine, but it certainly nudged me to at least try.

So I wrote the following column in about 45 minutes, edited it, asked my husband to read it, and then sent it to the religion editor at the Huffington Post, who sent me an email an hour later that it was on the homepage of the HP. No time to back down. And as I think about it, I'm glad I didn't. I've heard from dozens—really—of people I don't know, telling me I'd said what they wanted to, what they were thinking but hadn't been able to articulate. Many called me "courageous" but really, I only wrote a piece for a web site.

I never faced a rifle for my words.

And I wonder still: why are we afraid to talk about the things that matter to us in this election?
religion
Jo Kadlecek


Unapologetic: Evangelical Christian, Pro-Life and Democrat

Posted: 10/10/2012 2:24 pm
I'm in trouble now. Not so much because I work at a Christian college where many of the students (and donors), um, sit across the proverbial aisle. As fellow Christ-followers, they'll give me grace. And not so much because the Democrats I hang out with sit in an altogether different theological pew. As liberals, they'll show me tolerance. Right?
No, I'm in trouble because now I'm putting my religion AND politics out there on the Internet, for all the other crazies to see and comment in nasty one-dimensional diatribes about how wrong and misinformed and ridiculous I am.
Still, some things are worth the risk. And this election has gotten scary. So here goes:
I wasn't always like this. I grew up in a Christmas and Easter Presbyterian suburban home to Republican parents. My dad campaigned for Barry Goldwater and my mom cried when Nixon resigned on national television because he'd been her hero.  READ MORE.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Good Coffee For Business and Community

I've long admired the efforts of small business women, those who work ridiculously hard every day to live out what has become their professional dream. And because everyone loves a good cup of coffee, this was a story with spark, with wisdom, with, well, Gusto. And it landed in the business section of the local paper, helping, I hope, inspire other small business women and men with big dreams that also happen to serve the community.

121003_SN_DLE_GUSTOCAFE2October 10, 2012

Gusto Cafe serves cup of world's hospitality

Call it an American dream with a shot of espresso. The way Albana Meta sees it, there’s enough good will — and coffee — to go around for everyone, if you just work hard enough.
So six months ago, despite an ominous economy, Meta, 39, of Danvers, opened Gusto Cafe at 280 Cabot St. in Beverly and renovated what was formerly the Trevi coffee shop. She’d searched for two years for her own place, all while working two and three jobs, including four years at Starbucks in North Beverly, where she learned much of the coffee business. She was just about to sign a lease for a cafe in Peabody when she learned the Trevi owners were moving on.
Now she has seven part-time employees and a steady stream of customers, many of whom she knows by name, coming for Stumptown direct-trade organic coffee, fresh paninis, and homemade gelato and soup. Business has been so good that Meta — who can’t seem to finish a sentence without a smile or a laugh — says most of her friends are surprised at the early success — especially given the legendary presence of the nearby Atomic Cafe.