Single, Black, and Adopting

As many black women realize that marriage may not be in the cards or decide not to marry, the desire to raise children is no longer out of reach. CNN recently reported on the increase of single black women choosing to adopt. For good or bad, single black women are finding that they don’t need [...]

Happy Father’s Day

To fathers who fulfill their role, stepfathers who take on the arduous task of loving their stepchildren like they’re own, to godfathers who provide spiritual guidance, grandfathers who spoil their granddaughters, and to countless uncles and family friends serving as role models to young boys and girls. On Friday, President Obama held a fatherhood summit [...]

Getting Schooled

Perhaps my favorite portion of President Obama’s address to Congress was when he cautioned American schoolchildren and challenged all Americans to “get schooled.”

Black Youths, Depression, and Suicide

I never thought suicide was something that happened in our community. I had never known anyone who had committed suicide. Everyone died the old fashioned ways: natural, accidental, or violent. And depression wasn’t something my family ever talked about either. “Life is hard. Deal with it,” was the advice we took from our elders. After all, therapy was for the rich and weak, who did not look like us. I wasn’t ready or eager to be wrong. Chicago Sun-Times columnist, Mary Mitchell, shatters the myths of black youths, depression, and suicide – and implores us to teach our children its okay to seek help.

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Compliments of the American Dental Association, National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) turns 60 this year. Each February, since 1949, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Ten Ways We Fail Our Kids Financially

The headline alone was enough to take me aback. And I don’t even have kids yet!   But it got me to thinking about how I learned my own financial lessons from my mother. I remember all of the lessons being hard ones, and spending most of my time as a kid promising that I would [...]

Black Student Unions: A Win-Win Decision for Black Students

Courtland Milloy writes in The Washington Post:  Now that the First Kids have started classes at Sidwell Friends in Washington, they are likely to face this decision in the years to come: Whether to join the school’s Black Student Union. Or not. Will their choice matter either way? Sure, it will, unfair as that might [...]

Talking Money with Adult Parents

Maria Di Mento of Kiplinger writes:  Whether you’re 5 or 50, you’re always a child in your parents’ eyes. So it isn’t surprising that nearly 50% of senior citizens told a recent survey that they’ve never had a serious discussion about their financial situation with their adult children.  Even more sobering, only about one-third of [...]

Money Matters: Talking to Kids about Economic Ups and Downs

NYU Child Study Center: In these times of economic uncertainty, family talk is apt to center on money, mortgages, jobs, moving, school tuition, and credit cards. Talking to kids about money issues is tough, especially when parents are under stress and have to deal with their own anxieties. Although parents may want to protect their children [...]

Mayo Clinic: Advance Directives and Living Wills

The issues surrounding serious illness and death aren’t easy to discuss. But it’s far easier on everyone if you have a living will and other advance directives in place before you’re faced with a serious accident or illness. If you don’t, you may find yourself in a situation in which you’re unable to communicate your [...]

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