Elevation by Sheilah Vance

Rest in Peace, Senator Kennedy

Senator Ted Kennedy was a great champion for justice and many of the causes about which I am most passionate, including education. 

One of the greatest thrills of my life was when I was in 8th grade and on a class trip to Washington.  We were standing on the Capitol steps when, who should start walking down them, but Senator Kennedy.  To me, he was like a rock star.  I ran over to him and shook his hand, and he gave me one of his beautiful smiles and a great hello. 

When I was in my 20s and working on Capitol Hill as a reporter, I covered education.  I recall still being thrilled to see Senator Kennedy passing me as I stood in line with the other reporters waiting to get into a hearing room as he and other legislators discussed such important issues as the Higher Education Act, Pell Grants, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  His eloquent and impassioned arguments for a broader federal role in education still ring in my ears. 

As I've worked in the field of education for most of my professional life, I have always cheered on Ted Kennedy as he fought for those who somehow always seem to be left behind.  We have lost a true champion of educational equity and opportunity.  I only hope that someone--or a whole group of folks--will pick up where he left off.  Peace--SV

Call-in Wed. 8/12 with your divorce questions to "My Time with Kim Iverson"

Please join me on Wednesday, 8pm - 9 pm EST, as I am a guest on "Your Time with Kim Iverson" in the Lifeline segment, taking listener questions on topics related to divorce--what to expect, how to deal with it, etc. This syndicated show is broadcast on KAMX Austin-TX, KRSK Portland-OR, KALC Denver-CO, KFBZ Wichita-KS, KKSN Kansas City, WMC Memphis-TN, WZPL Indianapolis, WTSS Buffalo, WPTE Norfolk.

If you or your friends have questions and need answers, call in or listen in.

Five Steps to Help Children Cope in a Divorce

In honor of July being National Child-Centered Divorce Month, please see my article in the July Arizona Foothills Magazine.  http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/features/features/479-5-steps-to-help-children-cope-during-a-divorce.html.  I hope you find it helpful, and I'd love to read your comments.--Peace.

I'm signing at NAACP Convention Authors Pavilion, Tues., 7/14, 10am-noon. Open to public.

If you’re going to be in New York City on Tuesday, July 14, come by the NAACP Annual Convention “100 Years, 100 Authors” Authors Pavilion at the New York Hilton, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, in New York City.  I’ll be signing copies of my novel, Land Mines. I was honored to be selected for this important event for such a great organization. I hope to see you in New York.  For more information and a schedule of all of the other authors, see www.naacpauthorpavilion.com.  Click on the poster to see a larger image, and you will see the names of all of the 100 authors, too.

Join me at Sports and Entertainment Roundtable: A Discussion of the Industry and its Nuances", 7/3 in New Orleans

I will be speaking about book writing and publishing at the continuing legal education program, Sports and Entertainment Legal Roundtable: A Discussion of the Industry and Its Nuances, July 3rd from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Bar Center, St. Charles Street, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by the National Bar Association, Region V, for all of those in town for the Essence Music Festival.

The Panelist will include Will Packer, Producer of "Stomp the Yard" and "Obsessed"; Adolph Birch of the National Football League, V.P. of Law and Labor Policy; Michell Davis, Partner of Register Lett, Atlanta, GA, and me in my role as President & CEO of The Elevator Group, an independent publishing company.

Jon & Kate & divorce up close and personal on your living room TV

I just watched Jon & Kate painfully and publicly discuss their divorce and the impact they think it will have on them and their eight children.  It was so sad and so raw.  It brought back memories of those first horrible days of my own separation and divorce, and I felt for both of them as they enter what is to them unchartered territory.  They talked about continuing their reality show so that all of us can see how they and their eight children cope with this great change in their lives.  I can't imagine going through a divorce with the whole world watching you and your children's just about every move.  I know that Jon & Kate can't even imagine, although they think they can, the land mines that they will face as they navigate their divorce with eight other little lives dependent on their every decision.  I wrote my novel Land Mines to help people going through a divorce understand what some of the land mines are that they may face and to help their friends and family understand what those people in the midst of a divorce may be going through, but what they may never tell their friends and family.  Many people find the novel to be affirming and reaffirming, but others have no interest in reading about separation, divorce and its aftermath.  It will be interesting to see how viewers respond to separation and divorce when a family that was so loved by so many brings them smack dab in the middle of it.  It won't be easy on Jon or Kate or the eight children.  But, there are ways to cope.  Jon and Kate have to believe that their best days are ahead of them.  And, they have to help their children transition into and through this experience so that they can come out as healthy, happy, independent adults on the other side.  It can be done, but whether it can be done on television remains to be seen.  My prayers and my heart goes out to all of them.--Peace

My "Ten Things Every Married Woman Should Know" article in Portland Family

Check out this link

http://portlandfamily.com/news/165/430/10-Things-Every-Married-Woman-Should-Know/d,PDX%20Family%20Online%20Only%20Article%20Template.html. 

Listen to my 9 City 1-hr. radio interview 5/13, 8pm. EST, Your Time with Kim Iverson

Please join me on Wednesday, 8pm - 9 pm EST, as I am a guest on "Your Time with Kim Iverson" in the Lifeline segment, taking listener questions on topics related to divorce--what to expect, how to deal with it, etc.  This syndicated show is broadcast on KAMX Austin-TX, KRSK Portland-OR, KALC Denver-CO, KFBZ Wichita-KS, KKSN Kansas City, WMC Memphis-TN, WZPL Indianapolis, WTSS Buffalo, WPTE Norfolk.  Listen in and call in!  I'd love to hear from you and answer your questions. 

5 Things Couples Should Know When Considering Divorce in a Bad Economy

I'll be interviewed on this topic on Wed., 4/15 at 2 pm on WNMA-AM, Miami.  One of the five things is reduce joint marital debt, like joint credit cards.  I talk about how filing for one type of bankruptcy can discharge this credit card debt.  The Associated Press reported that nearly 1.2 million debtors filed for bankruptcy in the past 12 months, according to federal court records that they collected and analyzed.  AP reports that in March, 130,831 sought bankruptcy protection — an increase of 46 percent over March 2008 and 81 percent over the same month in 2007.  See the article at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ikymwYIOopCKgNCXplo_p58i7QAQD97HRUSG0.

I'm on the radio!

I've always wanted to speak around the country and help people rise above the problems they were facing.  That's happening now in a beautiful way.  I will be interviewed on the topic -- Be Your Own Valentine:  Keys to Rebuilding Confidence, Humor, and Optimism After Divorce, on Wed. 2/11 on the Morning Show on WNOR-FM, Norfolk, VA at 7:45AM EST; and on Friday, 2/13 on KCAA, Baxter in the Morning, San  Bernardino, CA, at 9:45 Pacific Time.  If you're in any of those markets, listen in, and then let me know what you think.--Peace.--SV