By Corey Dion Lewis, guest contributor The first time I told one of my best friends I loved him and was proud of him in a text message, he immediately called me. Not to say it back, but to see if I was OK. In his mind, the only logical Read more…
Why gender equity in Iowa has to include LGBTQ+ kids By Zachary Rus, guest contributor Growing up in Northwest Iowa, I learned a skill no kid should need: How to walk into a room and quickly determine who was safe and who was not. I managed my voice, hands and Read more…
Years ago, over lunch, a former colleague named Anna described her life as a race between two full-time jobs that refused to align. I can still see her sitting across from me, struggling to keep her composure. A successful attorney and mother of three young children, she was constantly pulled Read more…
BY SUZANNA DE BACA, STORY BOARD ADVISORS CEO I still remember standing in my living room as a teenager, watching campaign ads for Roxanne Conlin on the television. I did not know Roxanne Conlin personally. I did not understand all of her policies. But I knew one thing clearly. She Read more…
BY MOLLY GOSSELINK, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR Years ago, I read a book that resonated with me and has continued to ground me when the world seems a little upside down. It was about finding purpose in your life and using it as your guiding principle, or North Star. If you’re up Read more…
For most of my life, I believed anxiety was part of who I was. Not the kind that stops you from functioning – but the kind that hums quietly beneath everything. High-functioning. Productive. Invisible. The kind that lets you build businesses, raise a child and lead teams while constantly bracing Read more…
As 2026 arrived, I got news that made me simultaneously proud and broken: My theatrical project advanced to the final round of a prestigious national competition, top 7% of applicants. I’m a Creative Capital finalist. Entering Creative Capital this year meant artists were considered for two awards: the classic artist Read more…
By Molly Varangkounh, guest contributor I am the mom of three daughters who are now young adults. From the beginning, I have been aware that the small, ordinary choices I make every day shape how they see themselves and how they show up in the world. Watching them grow into Read more…
By Jenna Feeney, Guest contributor I first learned about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the Aug. 21, 2023, Fearless newsletter guest column by Krista Tedrow, and the concept was further discussed in the Nov. 13, 2023, article about The Beacon. I sought out the ACEs questionnaire and discovered I have Read more…
By Krista Tedrow, Guest contributor What if this year didn’t need fixing? What if you didn’t need another list, another reset, another version of yourself that requires discipline and self-correction to exist? What if you chose a word? Instead of a goal or a resolution, what if it was an Read more…