I'm constantly amazed at the courage of young children to stand up in front of a large crowd and perform. There are adults who are afraid to speak in front of a crowd. And yet children do it very naturally. I think being in a group and being well-prepared certainly empowers them.

Even now, where you have single fathers raising their children too, not just single mothers.

Rather than standing or speaking for children, we need to stand with children speaking for themselves. We don't need a political movement for children... [we need to] build environments and policies for our collective future.

I've found what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.

One must have the courage to give children up;
One must have the courage to give children up;
their wisdom is not ours.

-- Chardonne

Thankfully existing only in SMALL pockets within our discipline, is “intellectual” snobbery. It’s a hushed but ugly truth that people are made to feel not worthy to be among a certain set – didn’t attend the right school or don’t have the requisite abbreviations to follow their name. I know what that feels like. Good thing I'm pigheaded, have a bigger vision and committed to my craft, or I would’ve succumbed to it long ago. That is why when I meet an emerging writer who’s serious about developing their craft, I try to encourage them as much as I can. I say IGNORE the highbrow cliques and prove your mettle by growing, accepting balanced feedback and most of all, creating work that will stand the test of time. Period.