Dreams In Motion Part I: Thriving on Stormy & Sunny Days

                                           Ruth - Sunny Days Manager from Boaz & Ruth

Thought for the day: Everyone deserves a second chance. Ruth, a graduate of the Boaz & Ruth program in Richmond VA, shared her story with us when the Dreams On Wheels Tour visited this summer. In the video above, you will meet Ruth, hear her story & that of Sunny Days, the store she now manages for Boaz & Ruth. She is living a life she never even dreamed possible. Just a few years ago, Ruth suffered from depression & tried to end her own life three times. She was the first participant who had never been incarcerated. Ruth convinced Martha Rollins, founder of Boaz & Ruth, that her depression made her a prisoner in her own mind & that she needed their help as much as ex-offenders.

Ruth's recovery & the story of Sunny Days is also a metaphor for all of Boaz & Ruth's amazing work. The store could only open on sunny days, since the roof would leak on rainy days. A visitor donated a new roof & an air conditioning system enabling the business to be open any day, rain or shine. The lives of the trainees & graduates of their program could not tolerate the rainy days & storms in their lives before they went through their program. When challenged by life's storms, most of them broke the law & ended up in jail. They lacked the skills to work & be productive members of society, but thanks to Boaz & Ruth they are now contributing to society & supporting themselves, their families, & their communities.

I had heard the stories about this amazing nonptrofit organization before visiting this summer. The reduction of recidivism from 33% to 12% & the reduction of crime in downtown Richmond. The stories impressed me & I included them as one of the Dream nonprofits in my book. Visiting the 5 businesses that their participants & graduates, like Ruth,  run was truly inspiring. Her passion, pride in her work are impressive. It was a pleasure to see how she is now giving back to the organization that saved her life by encouraging others, including her daughter who volunteers in the store. I will be sharing the stories of others from Boaz & Ruth & hope they encourage you to reach for your dreams as well!

To purchase The Wake Up and Dream Challenge & donate 1/2 of the profits to Boaz & Ruth click here

Dreams On Wheels Part VI: Tired but Inspired

When we were well-rested & inspired at the outset

Thought for the Day: Every part of a dream that you accomplish teaches you something that can help you in the next phase of your dream projects.  Dreams On Wheels 2012 just completed the 1st tour & we learned a great deal. I have even greater respect for journalists. I had planned to post daily. We may have accomplished that on one or another social media site from twitter, to facebook, to instagram, to google+, & blogspot but as our responsibilities & travel continued we may have neglected some of the sites & not posted daily in every one of them. I will however, make sure to post blogs & videos from the trip over the next few weeks.

David Temple

So much happened every day, that it was impossible to do it justice while speaking & meeting so many wonderful people. I met David Temple  & the men who helped him break the color barrier at the University of Virginia by joining a fraternity in the 1960's who has dedicated his life to ending prejudice. 

Martha Rollins

Ruth Eisner

It was a pleasure to meet Ruth Eisner,  a 90 year old young woman who just started her acting career. I met several wonderful ex-convicts who are taking advantage of a second chance in life. They are leading productive lives thanks to Martha Rollins vision, hard work in an encore career, they are role models for others coming out of prison dreaming of a second chance.

Addressing College Students on Bullying

I met scores college students from around the USA & Canada who are leaders of an organization grappling with questions about their dreams, bullying & hazing on college campuses today.

I will share their stories & more & hope you will stay tuned & share your reactions & similar stories when you hear about these inspiring dreamers!