Ndagire Sarah walked the red dirt carpet in her perky hairdo and a beautiful blue and white gown. She carried herself like a rich lady in a gomesi, the formal dress of women in Uganda. When I saw her I was overcome with tears of joy. I had met Sarah in 2006 when she was so sick with HIV/AIDS that she could hardly breathe. She … Continue reading Deed for Life
Just returned from a three week trip to Uganda where we did more video production for BeadforLife (http://beadforlife.org.) The highlight was seeing women who were dying of poverty just three years ago celebrate paying off homes they saved for and built themselves. In a joyous ceremony BeadforLife presented 22 women with the titles to the land they sit on. The women paraded from home to home dancing and ululating, … Continue reading Out of Africa
Several of my friends and even my family think social networking is a waste of time. They won’t Facebook, Twitter or read blogs and can’t really understand what I get from it. I’ve found the most vehement opposition from my tango dancing mother and my friends who are cyclists. These are not ladies who exercise casually, but rather women who compete on the dance floor, do … Continue reading Favorite Friends I’ve Never Met
My husband, Darrell, was beside himself. What’s up with this? We have a son about to enter the Denver Public Schools and here they are banning employees from travelling to Arizona because of opposition to the new immigration law. He was fuming. Don’t they have more important things to worry about (like higher graduation rates?) He even called KHOW’s Caplis and Silverman radio show to vent. I tried to rationalize the … Continue reading Denver Public Schools Takes a Stand
In June 2009 I posted a blog about the dire condition of the River Jordan and how a unique collaboration of Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians are cooperating to save it and care for the needs of a parched region. National Geographic Magazine has done the story “Parting the Waters” for its April edition on Water. It showcases the environmental dilemma, the political issues that have led to it, and … Continue reading River Jordan Redux
Chag Sameach. It means “joyous festival” and is a popular greeting during Passover. With the Jewish celebration of freedom here again I recall our very special Passover seder in Kampala, Uganda. I posted this as the very first story on my blog back in May 2008. My story also ran in the Denver Post in spring 2007. http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5534210 Cinematographer Paul Hillman and I are heading back to Kampala, Uganda again in June to do … Continue reading Passover in Kampala
The debate over health care reform is not over. Even with the House vote and significant legislation approved, the merits and process will be hashed and rehashed for years, and certainly, vociferously, until November when mid-term elections decide the fate of many in Congress who went one way or the other. We haven’t heard the last of the Tea Party and Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck but I think that when people … Continue reading Health Care Reform and Leadership
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who is one of the great advocates for women and the eradication of extreme poverty in the world, has written an article about BeadforLife and how people can get involved in the fight against global poverty. It is so exciting to have him as part of the bead circle. Hosting a bead party is a wonderful way to make a … Continue reading BeadforLife in New York Times
My 16 year old son is mad at me. When I call home his anger is palpable. He does not understand why I leave home for extended periods of time every couple of years to work at the Olympics. He won’t listen when I try to explain so I’m putting it out to the world. Being part of a production team at the Olympics is, … Continue reading Why I Work at the Olympics
I walked out of my hotel room this morning carrying a plastic bottle of water and by the time I was at the front desk it was empty. I handed it to the concierge and asked if he could throw it out. Before I could correct myself a hotel manager did it for me. Recycle! From what I can tell, Canada is an enlightened country. There are as many … Continue reading Enlightened Canada
Vicky Collins Online 