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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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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How Angela Patton (CEO of Girls for a Change) Makes Things Happen

Angela Patton captured the hearts and imaginations of hundreds of thousands of online viewers with a TED talk describing an

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Style Weekly 40 under 40 2014

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Social Emotional, Personal Development, Community . By Maya Smart | October 31 , 2014

Make Every Day a Play Day

“We’re in a society where we have to justify play. But play reminds you of your better self and how happy you can be.  In

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Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Library & Literacy Advocacy, Author & Leader Interviews . By Maya Smart | November 07 , 2014

How Katie Meyler Fights for Girls in Liberia

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Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Books for Adults . By Maya Smart | September 09 , 2015

On Protesting Whitewashed Reading Lists

Instead, I found the same old, same old: an overwhelmingly white and male list.  It featured just three women authors —

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