I absolutely love it when the people I work with are recognized for the great work they do. By extension, I feel like I am part of their success. I know it’s really them making it happen as I sit on the sidelines and watch, but in some small, very-tiny way whether through conversation, encouragement, graphics, product design or branding I do feel connected.
I was reminded twice this week of such successes. Willa Brigham, a North Carolina resident, storyteller, poet, T.V. personality and motivational speaker was awarded an Emmy for Best Children’s Program at the 24th Annual Mid-South Emmy Awards. This is Willa’s second Emmy as host and star of WRAL’s Smart Start Kids. Smart Start Kids is a Raleigh, NC produced children’s program for 3- to 5-year olds and their families (by the way, I know plenty of adults who watch Willa’s show even though they have no children. It’s that good!) where local children are chosen to be “stars” of the show and go on filed trips to interesting places throughout North Carolina.
The award ceremony was held in Nashville, Tennessee on January 30th. Watch the telecast of the ceremony on ustream by clicking here.
Willa can be found entertaining children and adults throughout the Southeast with her delightful storytelling and motivational messages. If you are fortunate enough to catch her in the act, I can assure you, you will not be disappointed. Be sure to check out her CD’s of poems and stories.
Ah yes, poems, speaking of which… Larry Johnson, a NC poet and author, recently published his first book of poems, Veins. This collection of historically rich yet totally modern poems will take you to forgotten places and silhouette figures of the past with new light. Not being a connoisseur of sophisticated poetry (as in I need cliff notes or Frank Stasio to help me interpret the literature properly) I thoroughly enjoyed today, for the second time, WUNC’s The State of Things re-broadcast of Veins. Listen to the original broadcast hosted by Frank Stasio on November 12, 2009 here: http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot1112c09.mp3/view
If you’d like to meet Larry, review his new book Veins and see the beautiful book cover art, he will be at Quail Ridge Books & Music on March 7th at 3pm for a book signing and reading.
Congratulations Willa and Larry! Even in the most tiniest of ways, it’s an honor to be part of your success.