I’m so happy this week to share my conversation with George Brown, the executive director of the Highlights Foundation, an organization that has changed so many writers’, illustrators’, and most importantly children’s lives by extension.
Though this isn’t a word-for-word transcript (which I haven’t yet learned how to do on Zoom), I’ve included my questions with George’s answers below. Be sure to click the underlined links for pictures and more information about the Highlights Foundation, funding sources, and Highlights magazine.
My apologies for misspelling “Boyds Mills” in last week’s blog!
How did being raised in a Highlights household affect you as a child? I am a Highlights kid through and through. I remember from an early age thinking that Highlights was one of the neatest things going.
How does it affect your own children? I think their answer might be more about the annual gatherings we have in July at our family homestead in Boyds Mills—also known as the Highlights Foundation retreat center. I think for Katharine and me, the mission of Highlights to help kids become their best selves, and the idea of creating curious, creative, caring, and confident children has been what we strive to do as parents.
What did you learn from your dad that you'd like to share? Two things: You can only sand the high spots. And most importantly, the ability to listen and connect. In your blog, you shared the tale of how Kent called you about your scholarship and then chatted for a bit about farming. He has a gift of making friends with anyone.
What are you most proud about when it comes to Highlights? I’m proud to be a part of something with a commitment to doing what’s right for children. My great-grandparents started Highlights magazine because they believed children are the world’s most important people. In my job at the Highlights Foundation, I get to meet and interact with people every day who share that same belief. They care so deeply about children and young adults, they are working to create the very best stories and illustrations for children.
Describe a typical Highlights day for you. Typically, I come to work at the highlights foundation, try to do a quick 20-30 minute project at my desk, then head up to the Barn to check in on guests on campus. If there’s a workshop, I might listen in a workshop for a few minutes before heading back to my office to work. My days are a mix of meetings and independent work.
Do you have any special, funny, poignant memories you'd like to share? Hmm. Will have to think on that for a minute.
What are some of the things you like the best about being the face of Highlights these days? I don’t know that I like to be called “the face” of the highlights foundation. I often think of our faculty and our team as the face of the highlights foundation. It is the team and faculty that drive the ideas that create that outward appearance of who we are. They are the ones coming up with great topics for workshops and classes. They are helping us develop our scholarship program. We have a Board of Trustees and an Equity and Inclusion committee that help guide us. I think of myself more like the tail than the face. I’m often in the back trying to figure out how to translate the forward-facing work into a cohesive model.
What duties are your least favorite? The hard stuff.
The campus is such a special place to so many. What do you think makes it that way? Creative residue.
How has the Highlights experience changed over the years? Hopefully for the better, with the same ethos of what it was built upon. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is supported. We have a nurturing environment.
What do you foresee for its future? Online and in-person workshops and retreats. Funded programs. As part of our work toward equity and inclusion, we have developed a number of in-community retreats. Finding funding for those programs is one of our current projects. We have had success in developing a Muslim Storytellers Fellowship through funding from the Doris Duke Foundation. Being able to find partners who understand the work we’re doing to make room for a more diverse range of authors and illustrators is where much of our focus is over the next two years.
Did you ever want to be a writer or illustrator yourself? No. It’s hard work. I feel good being able to write a fundraising letter once in a while, or put together a strategy document. But writing and illustrating are hard. I admire the hundreds of creatives we meet each year. And I recognize my role is to try to nurture the Highlights Foundation so this place can exist for them to do that great creative work.
Thanks, George, for your time and your inspiring words. And thanks, Highlights Foundation for your support, connecting me with so many wonderful people, and for helping me make my writing dreams come true.
Guest Host and Featured Artist
Our grandson Carter is my guest host and featured artist today. Here’s his picture of spring in the middle of nowhere, our home.
Freebies
Be sure to leave comments either here or on social media for a chance at this month April bookmark. If you share this post let me know and I’ll put your name in again for an extra chance.
Have a great week!
Hugs,
Dale
Day 118, Year 11 in Glasshalfull