Today was a fairly mellow day and a good reminder how much I love Washington, DC! I lived here for two years and coming from Oregon, many parts of the city left me looking like a deer in headlights. Remember Marion Barry? He was Mayor while I was here and the city earned the honor of the murder capital of the US. Then, there were awesome discoveries and experiences--the Smithsonians, political rally's every month, the Bush inauguration (I'll never forget during his speech he kept saying, "winds of change are blowing" it was one of the coldest days of the year with a crisp wind blowing). The city offered many opportunities and opened my eyes to a range of diversity I hadn't seen or experienced in Oregon. For a little trip down memory lane, today I ... read more

It started with a simple ask over a year ago….fast forward to a nomination, application and interview and finally a selection to participate in the 2011 Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program. Thanks to City of Portland Commissioner Nick Fish and Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith for their letters of recommendation and Tripp Somerville and Zeke Smith for their nominations….I’m off for an incredible adventure. I should add that I sported a nasty black eye during my interview at the University of Washington a year ago (a header gone bad during an outdoor soccer match) and was lucky enough still to be selected as a participant. Soccer/Football really is a universal language! So, what is this fellowship all about?? Founded in 1982, the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) Program was created by the German Marshall Fund of the ... read more