Maya's Favorites, Personal Development . By Maya Smart | April 02 , 2014

How-To Books: You’re Reading Them Wrong

I’ve probably bought 200 volumes in the genre, all promising to offer up the keys to eternal happiness, flawless skin, heaps of

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | April 11 , 2014

My Writing Process

A not-quite-midlife crisis sent me back to school last year–VMFA Studio School. There I tried to shed my business

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Books for Adults . By Maya Smart | April 13 , 2014

Recommended Reading for Olivia Pope

As “Scandal” careens toward its season finale Thursday, I can’t help wondering along with Olivia Pope what her life would

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Personal Development, Community . By Maya Smart | April 22 , 2014

How Jenny Holmgrain (Founder Camp Kesem VCU) Makes Things Happen

Jenny Holmgrain is a college student who is busy mounting her first camp, as the founder and co-director of Camp Kesem VCU. While

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Literacy Skills, Early Language . By Maya Smart | May 05 , 2014

The Most Beautiful Thing about Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o is gorgeous. People magazine got that right when handing her the 2014 “World’s Most Beautiful” title.

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Maya's Favorites, Kids Books, Literacy Skills, Early Language, Community, Diversity & Inclusion . By Maya Smart | May 30 , 2014

We Need Diverse Books to Build Character through Characters

As I watch the #weneeddiversebooks hashtag fly on Twitter, I’m reminded that seeing some element of yourself reflected in the

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Maya's Favorites, Community . By Maya Smart | June 04 , 2014

Service to Others: The Gateway to Leadership?

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How Emily Elliott (Principal, St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School) Makes Things Happen

When Emily Elliott’s oldest child Charlie was ready for kindergarten, she followed him to school, literally, taking a job as a

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Do your habits match your expectations?

I gave the Senior Convocation Address for Richmond Public Schools this year and I count the experience among the great privileges

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Personal Development . By Maya Smart | June 25 , 2014

The Case for Raising Your Reading Standards (If You’re Like Me and Don’t Have Any)

A less-is-better ethic is taking hold of my life. Influenced by an eclectic mix of productivity gurus, leadership coaches,

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