Rejection Dejection https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/opinion/rejection-college-youth.html?smid=url-share David Brooks’ column (the link is posted above for those interested), published recently in the New York Times, is a sobering reflection on the dilemma of some of our youth who are insistently asked to ‘put themselves out there’ only to experience rejection just as insistently.  The myth of Sisyphus who was consigned eternally to roll a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down, comes to mind; an ageless image of frustration, futility and failure.  Another mythological character comes to mind as well:  Procrustes, who subscribed to the ‘one size fits all’ model.  [...]

Essentially Ellington Big Band Festival https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/style/essentially-ellington-wynton-marsalis-jazz.html?smid=url-share

My Story Vault:  The Daniel Bennett Story—Making Music, Making Meaning https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ION1L9KaL3XGhSZnpooB8 This podcast of a conversation between Dr. Dennis Rebelo and the jazz saxophonist (actually a multi-instrumentalist) Daniel Bennett is a real treat!  These two met one another by chance 10 years ago or more when Rebelo showed up at one of Bennett’s shows.  They developed a friendship over the years and their camaraderie is apparent in the hour plus of their back and forth.  Bennett is a working (a lot!) musician, but his story, as Rebelo guides him with questions to tell it, is not so much a [...]

Presentation:  Rise Leadership Boot Camp I had the privilege of delivering a presentation on 'Inspiring a Shared Vision' at the Rise Leadership Boot Camp held at Greater New Birth Church in Milwaukee. The audience consisted of current and aspiring business leaders, entrepreneurs, members in leadership positions at the church, and individuals interested in leadership development. I began by emphasizing the profound impact of motivating others and communicating a vision, as it lies at the core of effective leadership. I highlighted the importance of empathy, trust, mentorship, and pushing individuals to push the threshold of their own capabilities in order [...]