Observations from my Backpack

For immediate release:   The A Backpack Journalist program for afterschool and summer camps is closing at the end of June.   A book has been commissioned that covers the years of service for military families and their children, and then also the local outreach that began with the City of Charleston and moved to other schools as an afterschool program.    In Spring of 2023, a group of African American youth graduated from high school that were in the first A Backpack Journalist class at Sanders Clyde,  A celebration was held.    Today there is a large group of young adults that attended the A Backpack Journalist Military Youth Symposiums that are in professional writing careers that include the Washington Post, writers for professional musicians, as missionaries on the border and in Australia and serving in Germany for Military Familly.org and Young Life and Club Beyond.     Within the pages of this book the stories are ab...

February 13, 2024  Earlier today I spent time with Mayor Teck, and shared with him,  first the number of times that he visited over his years as Mayor - with the Backpack Journalist, and how as a Leader -"He showed up!".   When asked the new graduates about what they enjoyed the most during our eight to ten year together, they all agreed:  "well we got to meet the Mayor, and he came.  Even the time he. made you cry." The snipet of photo here is from a letter he provided to all the Backpack Journalist graduates this Spring, and as they each said: "we'll treasure for ever." In the book underway, Mayor Tecklenburg and his staff often supported our requests as we traveled the city.  We went from a Homeless event at the Gaillard, to the Film Summer Camp, to visiting City Hall multiple times and even we learned how to do the Charleston.  There were parades, and a visit to the Four  Corners of Law.  We even filmed the Mayor sharing with us the backg...

PTSD WON'T STOP ME!  This video project was commissioned in 2011.  After a final approval, DVD's were provided to the Department of Defense -  Resources for PTSD Support/Mental Health services.   Why now?   Recently while on my journey to meet again many of the young people who were in the A Backpack Journalist program, learned that this video is now being shared though the Survivorship Corp for the US Army by the contract office and the Chaplaincy Corp. (housed at Fort Jackson). This department is involved when a servicemember passes away, and assists the family with all the death benefits offered by the Department of Defense. Now as a measure to help family members learn more about the effects of PTSD, they are sharing this link.   Also now with the Yellow Ribbon Events for military families, this PTSD presentation is presented BEFORE the service member deploys, and may be shared once home. As you view the ending, the message that all the Nashville peop...

 Off the grid...in a look alike phone booth. It's working, gathering and writing non stop for 3-4 hours. I can only say that my journals are in tact, with dates, and correct spelling thanks to spell check. Where did I store my journals going back 10 years, within my emails. Can you imagine how the tech people look at me when they see my thousands of emails. Are you sure you want to keep these?  Glad I did...here is an example of what can now be shared. More to come. Friday, September 18, 2015 - Burke High School - Mayor of Charleston open forum Can you imagine a reporter asking a person campaigning for an office, a question and stipulating (asking nicely in this case)  that they can only respond in three sentences - basically to summarize?  (in other words, simply answer and to get to the point?) Well, that's what happened tonight, in a classroom at Burke High School.   Our team of SIX Backpack Journalists in a classroom stood, introduced themselves -with t...

 Hello Aloha Moon -  🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 I am in awe of the universe, and the planets  I keep on my Apple watch face the planets LIVE!  I am totally fascinated when I see Jupiter whirl about.  Yep it's real.  And sometimes when the clouds are not blocking, I see the bright moon.   Let's go a few years back. A Backpack Journalist attending the STEM Event in WASHINGTON, DC, discovered Dr. Jim Sowell, GA Tech and his project with the US Air Force -Aloha Telescope. Dr. Sowell was here in Charleston at the Stem Festival and many of the A Backpack Journalists attended and were able have a hands-on experience viewing the skies. So now the Aloha Telescope is on line and January 30th - you can register to follow along and visit the moon from your computer! Share with your school teachers - families and friends. Linda Dennis - a sky watcher always, loving the stars and planets! https://astronomy.gatech.edu/

  /Today I finished up the introduction.  For 5 hours in this area designed like phone booth. I found a quiet that made it easy for me to as they say:  "pound the keys".  And my friend who encouraged me to "go off the grid" was so right!  While I can't say the words came easy, but they indeed seemed to find the memories and bring them back in full color. Where did I find and connect with so many people that helped launch the A Backpack Journalist program? Well, it started believe it or not with offering arts and crafts to 2000 children as they went to work with their parents at The Pentagon on the "TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO WORK DAY".   Pallets of craft supplies were loaded into one of the most secure buildings in America.  All donated by vendors who were supplying to Walmart, Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Many vendors came also, and one of my favorite pictures is of Danny and his girlfriend and me all with bright red aprons on and lots of smiles.  I shou...

Dear family, friends and neighbors: I have found I have to go away and out of sight in order to finish this book.  ( On Becoming a Backpack Journalist - a catalyst to finding oneself.  For teens and just about anyone in search! - working title only...)  From an idea: "Teaching writing and journaling to help the stresses of deployment for families and teens"  - to weeks of Rand research and a Pilot agreed upon by a National Guard state, the A Backpack Journalist program was set to launch. Supported by research by Dr. Fred Medway, USC Psychology Researcher on the effects of deployment on families and children. Remember 9/11? Following 2001 - 2011, many deployed to serve our nation in war,  from the Reserve Components of our US Military, leaving  family and kids behind. Next in 2013 - 2022 -we were home in Charleston, SC with Civilian Kids in Title One or local schools. Military and civilian kids who spent time in the A Backpack Journalist program as teen...