What would it take to get more New Jerseyans to vote? This question has perhaps acquired a new sense of urgency after the lackluster turnout for the November General Election in which only 41% of voters participated — the second lowest turnout in the past 20 years. The two most…

“There is no way; we make the road by walking it” -Spanish poet Antonio Machado Elections don’t make change. They only ratify it. …

The typical origin story of a volunteer grassroots community organizer begins with passion and a problem. My own is silly sounding but true: I wanted my town to legalize backyard chickens. If I’d been allowed to have a few hens, well, things in South Jersey might be different right now! …

My first kid has been a reader, practically since birth. During the teething years, books were devoured, quite literally. Ours was a household full for board books with soggy corners. I have so many fond memories of sitting for hours at home or in the library, reading book after book…

(Originally published in my column for CF News Today) At a recent appointment, a doctor told me something I’ve heard many times before: “You know what you should really consider? Genetic testing!” He was scanning my chart, reading some of the details aloud, such as my father’s diagnosis at age…

Looking at images of Governor Murphy in Camden, hamming it up with former Republican Governor Chris Christie and Democratic party boss George Norcross, a single thought came to mind: Murphy jumped the shark. The expression “jump the shark” derives from an episode of “Happy Days” in which Fonzie literally jumps…

(Originally published in “Breathe and Believe,” my column with CF News Today) (Spoiler alert: It’s yours.) A writer friend of mine regularly reminds her memoir students: “If you drive your friend to get an abortion, that’s your story, the story of you driving your friend to get an abortion.” The…

(original published in “Breathe and Believe,” my column with CF News Today) Shortly after my younger sister’s double-lung transplant, I’d watch my mom flip through family photo albums with my kids and think, how could she stand to do that? How could she stand looking at photos of what I’d…

I know there are plenty of people who will balk at the idea of social media as anything but toxic. But if that’s the case, why do we all spend so much time on it? Social media, I generally think, is what we make of it, the good and the…