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What's in a name?

11/20/2018

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Kira Schlesinger: The Reverend Kira Schlesinger is the interim rector of St. Ann's Episcopal Church. She has lived in Nashville since 2008 and received a Masters of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Below, she shares with us the origins and importance of her name. 

William Shakespeare famously wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And yet, many of us are fiercely protective of our names; we take offense when people mispronounce or misspell them. Our names are who we are and how we are known in the world. Soon-to-be parents often spend a lot of time and energy deciding on a name for their child, potentially exploring religious or familial connections. Names follow certain trends, going through phases of popularity and switching from traditionally male names to traditionally female ones.

My name is Kira, which is a pretty unusual name. I never could find it printed on keychains or other souvenir paraphernalia alongside the Laurens and the Sarahs. When my parents were expecting my arrival, they wanted a name that started with a ‘K’ since they are Karen and Ken, but they were also looking for something different. A young woman in the neighborhood happened to be named Kira, and it piqued their interest. Ayn Rand’s first novel “We the Living” also features a female protagonist named Kira.

The Anglicized name Kira can be traced back to a number of different languages including Greek, Russian, Gaelic, and Japanese and might also be a feminine version of the Sanskrit name “Kiran” which means “beam of light.” Whatever its origin, as I have grown up, I’ve come to embrace having an unusual name.

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Redefining Family

9/10/2018

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While “family” seems like a simple concept to define, it’s just not that easy. There isn’t one definition for family, as it can mean different things to different people.  A family is not necessarily a husband and wife and their 2.5 children. Families differ in economic, social, and cultural backgrounds, and can be made up of moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, step-siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, pets, and much more. That said, one thing that universally defines a family in my opinion are people that are important to you, you can rely on, and you share memories with.

For me, my friends are a significant part of my family. I grew up with a mom, dad, sister, two cats, and a dog – all of whom I was very close with. And while I was close with my grandparents when they were alive, my extended family – aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. – didn’t live close by so we didn’t spend a lot of time together and form relationships. Instead, my family spent many summer vacations, holidays, and birthdays with very close “family friends” as we called it. I referred to them as my aunts, uncles, and cousins, although we were not technically related by blood. 

This idea of “family friends” was an important and common concept from an early age, and it’s why I’ve formed such strong friendships throughout my life that truly mean the world to me. Along with my immediate family, these friends are the people I’ve formed great memories with and who have always been there for me during the happy and tough times, and vice versa.

My definition of family is just one meaning. How do you define family and what does it mean to you? Let us know in the comments below or post on social media and tag ENHE and use the hashtag #LiteracyIsJustice!

Author

Robyn Nentwig is the Director of Internal Communications at Change Healthcare, where she is responsible for employee and executive communications. She had previously worked for a corporate and crisis communication consulting firm in New York City before moving to Nashville. Robyn spends her time exploring Nashville’s new restaurants, attending concerts, biking, playing tennis and hiking. She is currently serving as a board intern.

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How do you use literacy in your day job?

3/31/2018

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Being a banker might seem like it's all about math and numbers. But that's not always the case. ENHE board member Katherine Murrie reminds us in her blog post below that literacy is, in fact, everywhere. Murrie is Treasury Management Officer with Regions Financial Corporation, where she has worked since 2004

How do I use literacy in my day job? My day job is simple: I help my clients manage their resources effectively, so they can be meaningful stewards in the communities they serve.  I cannot be successful in my job without literacy. Literacy, simply put, is the state of being educated.  I didn’t know how to do my job well on day one; I had to use the tools I gained through school and work experience to help me along the way.  
 
So, literacy in my day job looks much like a toolbox. I am fortunate to have tools that support my continuous learning much like a carpenter needs multiple tools to build a house.  Before you hit snooze, I won’t bore you with the details of life as a banker.  Insert any passion you wish to turn into a profession, and these tools work.  They may not be called hammer or wrench but they are as effective at building an environment of lifelong learning as building a home.
 
Reading: I bet all of us read something in a work day.  Reading is a critical skill and is the gateway to opportunity. Taking this skill a step further, I read job related materials to comprehend. When a client sends an email with an issue, I read beyond the words on the page to attempt to understand what the person is trying to communicate.  Reading has always been a critical skill; and even more so in a digital age where people tend to prefer to communicate by written message.  
 
Writing: As much as I read, I write in equal amounts throughout my work day.  Writing serves multiple purposes. I might write an email to someone to communicate a message.  I also write notes to help prioritize tasks or work through a project or issue.  Like reading, the writing I create for work is not simply words on a page; they serve a purpose to connect with others, solve issues and find proactive solutions to make my clients’ lives easier.
 
Critical Thinking: In my line of work, reading and writing are two very close companions in helping me critically think through my day and tasks.  I don’t simply want to fulfill a request.  I use reading and writing to ensure I have given the very best solution to help my clients achieve their goals.
 
Reading. Writing. Critical thinking.  These are skills that help anyone achieve success in the workplace.  All three skills open the door to never ending possibility of learning and opportunity.

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What do you love most about reading?

3/4/2018

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ENHE board member Kathleen V. Hoover-Dempsey, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita, Psychology & Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. Her research program has focused primarily on family engagement in children's and adolescents' education and its influence in supporting students’ school learning and success. Below she shares with us the reasons why she loves to read and how characters like Nella from The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll can  help teach children and their parents valuable lessons about growing up. 

What do I LOVE about reading? Just about everything!
 
I love learning new things, hearing various characters’ perspectives, and being able to expand my understanding of those perspectives. I loved reading to our children as they were growing up because I could see so clearly the interest and learning that emerged as we moved through so many remarkable books for children. And I’ve certainly loved reading with my grandchildren during our visits together. In these reading times, I’ve learned more about each of them, we’ve enjoyed and shared our thoughts about the very interesting things that emerge in books that we’re reading, and we’ve often simply enjoyed the sweetness of time spent together in reading.
 
Why is reading stories to our children so important (and often so much fun)? And why is reading sometimes hard, sometimes inspiring, but almost always full of new ideas and new learning for our children?
 
One answer is that in reading, we (adults and children) very often learn new things as we read—and often learn much more about those “new things” than we might have thought possible. In reading excellent children’s books, we help our children (and our students, for those who teach) understand more about themselves, more about others, and more about those with whom we live and play and learn.
 
In going through many of the children’s books that we’ve read with our children and grandchildren over the years, some definitely stand out for their deeply thoughtful perspectives, observations, and important understandings about children’s learning and so many aspects of children’s lives as they grow up within their families, neighborhoods and the schools they attend.
 
One of my favorite children’s books, by Patricia McKissack (author) and Jerry Pinkney (illustrator), is The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll, published in 2007. This story describes a family with three children growing up during the time of the Depression. Mama and Daddy both work very hard, and their three daughters (Eddy Bernice, Nella, and Dessa) work at doing the things their parents need them to do, and spend a lot of time playing together when they can. As Christmas nears, the family’s middle daughter Nella makes it very clear that the only thing she wants for Christmas is a “Baby Betty” doll. Her big sister, Eddy Bernice, scolds her: “We’re in a Depression! Why are you wishin’ for somethin’ you’re never going to get?” Nella refuses to give up her hopes, though, and sends a letter off to Santa Claus asking for a Baby Betty doll.


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