Joan Blades visiting Millersville University

On Wednesday, Joan Blades, co-founder of,, author and founder of Living Room Conversations, held a conversation panel on Millersville University’s campus. 

I had the opportunity to help assist in preparing for Ms. Blades visit on the campus and it was a lot of work, but it was worth it in the end. (Isn’t it always?)

She began her presentation with a PowerPoint very briefly explaining her various endeavors such as a software company,, and Living Room Conversations. When discussing, she said it began by one statement she and her husband wrote and sent to friends and family, which then got sent even further around and gained thousands of signatures of support to send to Congress. She also mentioned how “small donations” add up when a campaign is going on. She gave the example of the “We will remember” campaign in 2000 in which raised $2.3 million in donations.  Since 1998, there have been three viral movements and thousands of organizations using as an online empowerment. is a “back burner issue” has she called it. The organization is focused on maternity leave for mothers, equal salary and sick days. Joan Blades also brought a guest with her, Kiki Peppard who has made it her mission to pass a law in Pennsylvania so that interviewers can not ask a woman or a man if they are married or have kids because she feels that it hurts some individuals from getting a job.

Blades’ book, The Custom-Fit Workplace, is a guide to “choose when, where, and how to work with a family” because everyone “deserves a job that fits” their lifestyle. In the book she also discusses flexible and virtual workplaces, modern career tracks and how mother’s should be allowed to bring their babies to work if there is no child care available. Going along with the topic of the workplace, Blades also briefly discussed the “Formal Result Workplace” in which businesses such as Gap and the Girl Scouts of America, do not keep track of time, they just keep track of what they are getting done and the results that arise because of that.

Living Room Conversations started as six people discussing a topic such as war, politics and healthcare breaking bread together. Blades said “We live in self-segregated communities…[and]…participants find common ground when they felt heard and learned something about other’s views” during a Living Room Conversation. There are six ground rules to having a Living Room Conversation: be curious, show respect, look for common ground, be authentic, be purposeful and own and guide the conversation.

By having Ms. Blades on Millersville’s campus, I hope her presentation will encourage students and faculty to think about discussing issues that may not have any impact on our grades, but assist in learning knowledge in different ways.

I also had the opportunity to live tweet for my social media campaign’s class using the hashtag, #getsocialMU to encourage students on Millersville’s campus to participate more in social media topics. It was a fun experience to be able to tweet information from a guest speaker and I learned a lot about being able to communicate effective information to those who could not attend the event.


I am personally glad Millersville University brought in Ms. Blades and I would encourage the university to be able to bring in more speakers like this.


Preseason Game 1: Flyers v. Maple Leafs

I’ll admit…The first period of the Philadelphia Flyers v. Toronto Maple Leafs was a bit shocking. I mean three goals within three minutes was a bit daunting as a fan sitting there in my Lindros jersey.

I give props to Kadri, Bodie and Raymond, they had some talent and I was getting nervous for Mason since I really liked him when he played for the Flyers in the 2012-2013 season (4-2-0). 

When the Flyers started making their move, it was amazing to watch. Clarkson, Scheen & Cousins get some great goals.

Stolarz, a 19 year old from New Jersey, had a tough experience for his first game with the goal by Ranger, however he managed 14/15 saves. Not to shabby.

I look forward to watching the season opener with these two on Oct. 2nd. Until then, I look forward to seeing the preseason games!