Life + Culture

Empowering Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Grand Love: Supporting Texas Grandparents And Kinship Families With Help, Heartfelt Connection, Community Article by Alexis Jacobs When Lena Smith and her husband found themselves unexpectedly raising their grandchildren, they quickly discovered just how challenging the journey can be, even with financial stability. That experience sparked something bigger: the creation of Grand Love, a nonprofit built to support grandparents and kinship caregivers raising a second generation. “Even though we...

Life + Culture

Changing Children's Futures, Stepping Forward

How Shoes, Service, Hope Are Transforming Lives In McKinney 4EveryKid Article by Alexis Jacobs | Photography by Provided by Soles4Souls Jamie Ellis, Soles4Souls vice president, strategic communications, shares via  McKinney + Prosper Lifestyle  the organization’s mission, how it serves communities like McKinney and the ways residents can get involved. Local contact Christine Ortega is the Texas senior manager, community partnerships for the nonprofit. What is Soles4Souls, and who does the...

Life + Culture

It's Adopting Cats And Dogs

Advice Editorial: Tips For Integrating New, Especially Rescued, Lifelong Furry Friends Article and Photography by Julie Brown Patton When embracing a furry family member within one's home, it's vital to understand what's become known as the 3-3-3 Rule . This phased adjustment approach reflects time-tested guidelines that it can take a dog or cat 3 days to decompress from its prior circumstances, particularly if coming out of noisy, unfamiliar shelter surroundings; 3 weeks to adapt to a...

Education

Empowering Students Through Academic Support

Stephanie Talley Shares How Academics Plus Builds Confidence, Improves Performance And Personalizes Learning For Every Student’s Success Article by Alexis Jacobs What inspired Academics Plus, and how has it evolved since 1991? "When Mark and Melinda Crenwelge founded Academics Plus in 1991, their goal was to teach students how to think. Though we’ve adapted to new technologies and challenges, like the pandemic and AI, we stay committed to that mission: helping students learn how to learn...