Time will tell but this sure seems like a refreshing shift at Focus on the Family. Jim Daly, who has risen from a hellish past, replaces Dr. James Dobson at the helm of the conservative Christian organization based in Colorado Springs and vows to be a different kind of leader. Instead of being dogmatic “it’s more about having a conversation with people.” He admires Barack Obama, wants to focus … Continue reading New Focus on the Family
The plight of homeless children was the focus of two articles in the 5/18 edition of USA Today. One is about 11 year old Zach Bonner who is walking from Atlanta, Georgia to Washington, D.C. to raise money and awareness for homeless youngsters. He hopes to meet with President Obama when he arrives in July. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-05-17-wagon-boy_N.htm?csp=34 The other is by CBS anchor, Katie Couric, who … Continue reading Homeless Children
Thanks so much to my friend, Kerry Sanders, who recognized a good story when he saw one and featured BeadforLife on NBC’s Today Show. Thanks also to Maryann Zoellner, Jim Bell, DeeDee Thomas and Meredith Vieira for their support. Phones are ringing off the hook in Boulder today as more women join the bead circle and get involved in the fight against global poverty in Africa. The women in … Continue reading BeadforLife on NBC’s Today Show
I wrote a blog on Christmas Day 2008 (after seeing the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”) about how conflicted I was while in Delhi, India over what to do when children begged for handouts. Apparently I’m not the only person who has struggled with how to respond. Check out Sunday’s New York Times column, The Ethicist, by Randy Cohen. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/magazine/03wwln-ethicist-t.html For more information on Vicky Collins visit http://teletrendstv.com Continue reading India Ethics
During April I’ve had a photo exhibit running in Studio 13 Gallery in Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District. It’s called “How People Live” and is a collection of photographs from the streets and slums around the world that illuminate the diversity of people and the condition of the poor. Photos were taken in Uganda, China, Thailand, India, Brazil, Mexico, and various places in America. Most of the … Continue reading How People Live
Many of you have read the story I wrote about a courageous acid attack victim from Kampala, Uganda named Juliette on this blog. HDNet’s World Report aired an “in her own words” piece about Juliette that I produced for the show on April 14. It is a very powerful story and Juliette’s ability to forgive her attacker and move on is inspirational. I hope you are as transformed by Juliette’s … Continue reading Acid Attacks: Juliette’s Story
Many thanks to PBS producer Patti Parson, Associate Producer Rebecca Jacobson and the folks at The Newshour with Jim Lehrer for the wonderful story they did on BeadforLife (http://beadforlife.org) on Thursday’s program. Every time the NGO gets national exposure of this kind the phones ring off the hook and more and more people join the fight against global poverty. Together we are making a difference and … Continue reading BeadforLife on The Newshour
Check out Ode Magazine for my story on slum tourism or “poorism” as it is sometimes called. This is my first magazine article and it came as a result of stories I introduced on my blog. Thanks to all for reading. http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/62/slum-tours/ For more information about Vicky Collins visit http://www.teletrendstv.com Continue reading Slum Tourism
I recently got to know a fabulous freelance writer named Jamie Simons who writes the Grateful Traveler article for Peter Greenberg’s blog. Peter Greenberg is the travel expert who is a frequent guest on NBC’s Today Show. I met him a couple years ago when I was producing for him at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic. If you haven’t read his blog you should … Continue reading Grateful Traveler
Darlene and Jacob. Teddy. Craig and Margie. All are the new faces of poverty. Six months ago each had jobs, homes and middle class incomes to support themselves and their families. Now two families are homeless and the other teeters on the brink. Their falls have been fast and hard. Darlene has a college degree and worked in the mortgage industry until October. Her husband … Continue reading New Face of Homelessness aka Economy Sucks Journal #2 2.7.09
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