Articles on PR for People

May 2026 Magazine

We do experience glimmers of goodness. Here are a few gems to remind you that there is hope for humanity. Jani Kelly, a gifted poet and wheelchair bound resident of Josephinum in downtown Seattle, has become a local legend. We’ve included three of her poems.  Barbara Lloyd McMichael writes about Teen Feed, an organization that has been feeding at-risk youth for forty years.  Evolutionary biologist Dr. Peter Corning wrote “The Fair Society: An An Ideology for the 21st Century” that profiles the mutually beneficial relationship that can be sustained by human beings. His book with a similar title shows that human beings are hardwired to have an innate sense of fairness.  Documentary filmmaker and author John de Graaf is currently directing a documentary about the life of Ecological Economist Herman Daly. A Kickstarter fundraising campaign has been launched to raise the funds that will allow John de Graaf’s team to finish the film, which has already been completed photographed and scripted.  ––Patricia Vaccarino


Heavy Lifting

Late last month, in the presence of most U.S. cabinet secretaries, senior White House officials, corporate and media VIPs and a broad cross section of the press, another attempt was made on President Trump’s life.  I had tuned in to CNN’s live broadcast to watch the White House Correspondents Association Dinner to see what tone the president would strike in his remarks, having finally accepted the association’s invitation to this historic dinner which paired the president and the press.  I got more than I bargained for, including a hard look at how well the Secret Service plans and executes at a large event like this – especially after two earlier attempts on the president’s life. 


Teen Feed: Building trust and confidence, one meal at a time

For forty years Teen Feed’s has been serving at-risk youth in Seattle’s University District. Ever since its founding, Teen Feed’s Meal Program finds itself hosting more than 50 young guests at each meal. And staff or volunteers are always on hand to provide other items their guests might need to help get through another day: bus tickets, warm clothing, referrals to shelters, or simply a chance to talk. Advocates are also trained in trauma-informed conversation and de-escalation techniques.


Jani Kelly: A Poet Laureate For The Soul

Today Jani Kelly, a gifted poet and wheelchair bound resident of the Josephinum, has become a local legend. Her words are part prayer, part poetry, with a sprinkling of passion and a good dose of mysticism. On those cold, dark days when all is lost, and nothing will sustain you, Jani’s voice rings with the truth. This poet laureate speaks to your soul.


ECONOCLAST, a new film by John de Graaf Launches A Kickstarter Campaign

Filmmaker and Author John de Graaf has announced that after a 50-year filmmaking career, he is currently well into what will almost certainly be his final film, ECONOCLAST: HERMAN DALY AND THE GOSPEL OF GROWTH.  A Kickstarter fundraising campaign has been launched to raise the funds that will allow John de Graaf’s team to edit the film, which has already been completed photographed and scripted.  


Book Review: Brawler Screams Desperation

Lauren Groff’s collection of stories share only one common thread: the loud, squawking desperation of working-class lives that inevitably come to an end in a one-two knockout punch. I’m glad to see a writer of considerable merit depicting working-class characters that no one really wants to know about. People are dying, rotting away, flicking cigarette ashes on the food they are about to eat, before blowing out their brains with a shotgun.


Downtown Lazarus

Downtown Lazarus is A poem from the margins by Jani Kelly


Wings of Joy

Wings of Joy is an original poem by Jani Kelly.


Be the LOVE

Be the LOVE is an original poem by Jani Kelly.


The Fair Society: An Ideology for the 21st Century

A biologically grounded approach to social justice is the middle-ground between capitalism and socialism. I call this new ideology “fair shares” and I propose a  framework that includes three complementary principles: (1) goods and services should be distributed to each according to his/her “basic needs”(which have a concrete  biological foundation);  (2) surpluses beyond the provision for our basic needs should be distributed according to “merit” (a principle which I will seek to clarify); and (3), in return, each of us is obliged to contribute to the “collective survival enterprise” in accordance with his/her ability (under the principle of reciprocity).