Good Reads
I just finished reading Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I highly recommend it. He is an amazing storyteller with incredible language skills and turns of phrase. The way he wove this tale, it really gives you insight into what you thought was the Wizard of Oz and the story behind it. He talks about good and evil and the dichotomy there, and what really is evil. It’s really wicked!
Jayne Flores
Good Reads
I just finished re-reading Tina Seelig’s “What I Wish I Knew When I was 20.” That may seem like an unusual choice for someone who’s turning 60. Yet I remember how impactful it was the the first time around when I was all of 55. ||A neuroscientist, Executive Director for Stanford’s Technology Venture Program and (at the time she wrote the book) a mother who was about to send her son to college, Tina Seelig invites us—no, encourages us to use a new lens when viewing obstacles in the course of charting the future. Specifically, embrace problem solving and get comfortable questioning conventional wisdom. Be willing to stretch the boundaries of your current skill set and give yourself permission to try something. By experimenting and getting feedback, we can make adjustments and move closer to a successful resolution. || It requires a shift in perspective. Problems and challenges become opportunities. Experimentation, failure and adjustment lead to success. Stress turns into excitement. And the uncertainty of the future is accepted for what it is: a field of boundless opportunities. || It’s a good read! At any age.
Lina Leon Guerrero
Good Reads
As a single working mom with a three year old, I had no choice but to switch patterns in my daily life. What I used to find as quiet time to read a book migrates into quickly reading short articles before my son brings me his book for us to read before we settle in. Life has wonderfully evolved into watching him grow. “Where is God” by Joni Oleltjenbruns is a children’s book about playing hide and seek with animals and finding that God is inside all of us. We have a collection of children’s books but my son gravitates to this one the most. This is his favorite book. We not only play the game of hide and seek as he turns the pages and laughing if God is under the bed or or hiding in the toys but also create a game of how to say his colors in CHamorro and identifying the animals. I masked in the excitement and satisfaction that he too enjoys reading. I highly recommend this book to parents and share it with your little ones.
Geri Leon Guerrero
Good Reads
I am currently reading The Empowered University by Freeman Hrabowski, et al. As I am getting through the book, the question of why higher education matters is front and center. It sheds light on where any of us would be without the education we received. Each of us is called to tell our story about how education has made a difference in our lives and those in our community and for our society. From what I’ve read so far, the book has inspired these thoughts – to be a leader for progress, higher education must champion with key stakeholders to push the education agenda for high quality education not just for the University, but for all levels of education beginning at home and K-12. We must be partners for progress at the very start or we don’t get to move the needle very far – or, at all. Getting through the book and happy to share my thoughts after I’m done. Happy reading!
Dr. Annette Taijeron Santos
Good Reads
Book Recommendation: Seed Sovereignty, Food Security: Women in the Vanguard of the Fight against GMOs and Corporate Agriculture by Vandana Shiva. This features stories of women from around the world whose movement to change the way we grow our food aligns with the need to sustain our planet and maintain our health. It argues for reclaiming traditional methods of agriculture for a better future for the next generations to come. I hope you have a chance to read this book, or others like this, because it is an eye opener to unsustainable industrial farming practices, destruction of local food cultures, genetically modified foods, and the many other concerns women like I have about our planet and our health. Food security is attainable! If we all are aware of what is going on, the better equipped we can be to help make a change. I’m currently reading Ali Wong’s Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life. My sister bought me this book with a note that ended in, “..hang in there.” And after the extremely busy, trying, yet rewarding year I’ve had, I needed something light and humorous. I happen to be a fan of raunchy humor and also very much appreciate a woman who is candid, honest and just REAL! I can relate to Ali Wong, who is absurdly funny in these letters that she writes for her daughters.
Michelle Crisostomo
Microgreens
We had a full house at the Guam Women’s Business Center on Saturday, June 1st, as we partnered with GU Hydro to host a “Grow Your Own Microgreens” workshop, presented by our very own Michelle Crisostomo. Michelle described her dive into entrepreneurship and how she decided to follow her passion for microgreen farming. She also shared her vision of encouraging others to do the same, forming Guahan Sustainable Culture, a non-profit to build that message and help educate the community. The workshop then moved onto the ‘hands on’ portion, with participants preparing planting trays under Michelle’s instruction. As the workshop concluded with a sampling of microgreens to taste, the Business Center was abuzz with conversations–friends were made and tips were shared! Each attendee left with their tray of microgreens to come, armed with newfound knowledge and confident in their abilities to grow nutritious, delicious and healthy greens right in their own homes!
