Kate Silver
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Aside from the occasional passion project I'm primarily writing content these days and not accepting pitches.
Articles by Kate Silver
In a fairy-tale northern Michigan town, tourists flock to these ‘mushroom houses’ Original
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Kate Silver SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST CHARLEVOIX — “Excuse me, do you live here?” I’m walking along a paved path in a tiny town that barely feels real. To my left, Lake Michigan is so intensely turquoise it’s ethereal. To my right, the stone, storybook houses lining Park Avenue are straight out of “The Smurfs.” The woman asks the question shyly, her wide eyes indicating that she, too, is unsure what to make of this magical place.
These 'mushroom houses' look like they're made for hobbits. You can stay in one.
Kate Silver Updated Tue, September 29, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT 7 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google The Thatch House, the first of Earl Young's many "mushroom houses," sits on a tree-lined street overlooking Lake Michigan in Charlevoix, Michigan. - (Hallie Kohler/For The Washington Post) CHARLEVOIX, Mich.— "Excuse me, do you live here?" I'm walking along a paved path in a tiny town that barely feels real.
When lifequakes jolt your world
If you’re seeking solid ground, one bit of advice rises above others: Don’t go through it alone When Tia Coppus’ husband, Ethan, died of cancer, a fog came over her. At just 38 years old, she felt as though she’d lost half of herself. Then came the silence. This was October 2021, and for 19 months, it had just been her and Ethan locked away from the world to keep COVID out. During that time, she’d forgotten how to be alone. And she’d forgotten how to be around other people.
Divers with disabilities find peace in deep water
More than a dozen scuba divers dot the pool’s turquoise waters, swimming in groups of threes and fours in dark wetsuits and face masks. Excited chatter, splashing, and the occasional squeal of delight pierce the humid, chlorine-scented air, a contrast to the frigid conditions outside on this January morning. To the uninformed observer, the people in the pool at a high school in suburban Chicago are indistinguishable from one another.
Polio’s ‘hidden figures’ in Tuskegee
Something was wrong with Myron Thompson. In 1949, as polio was sweeping the American South, the tiny toddler — just 2 years old — spiked a high fever and struggled to move. Terrified, his mother rushed him to the nearby hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama — a magnificent, red-brick building where a portico with four columns welcomed patients like a grand hotel. There, doctors and nurses who specialized in treating children with polio welcomed the child with open arms and began helping him immediately.
Divers with disabilities find peace in deep water
More than a dozen scuba divers dot the pool’s turquoise waters, swimming in groups of threes and fours in dark wetsuits and face masks. Excited chatter, splashing, and the occasional squeal of delight pierce the humid, chlorine-scented air, a contrast to the frigid conditions outside on this January morning. To the uninformed observer, the people in the pool at a high school in suburban Chicago are indistinguishable from one another.
Tackling Climate Change in Your Own Backyard
Concerns about climate change and the environment are harming our collective mental health. A study by Pew Research Center found that a majority of Americans believe climate change is harming people in this country, and 63 percent expect things to get more dire in their lifetime. Young people, in particular, are distressed about the climate emergency. And for many people, the constant barrage of doom and gloom makes matters worse. They want to act—not react.
Empowering People to Save Animals From Extinction
feature Empowering People to Save Animals From Extinction min read LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Since launching the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction in 2015, it has become increasingly clear that there’s an extraordinary amount of work that must be done to educate, inspire, and motivate people to join in conservation efforts, both inside and outside of zoos and aquariums.
The Expensive Truth: Why America’s small businesses and consumers will bear the brunt of tariffs
sponsored by: National Retail Federation On November 5th, people around the world watched and waited with anticipation to learn who would be the next U.S. president in what many consider one of the most historic and consequential elections to date. Now, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, the world is watching once again — this time to see which campaign promises will come to fruition. Chief among them? The president-elect’s proposed tariffs.
The Expensive Truth: Why America’s small businesses and consumers will bear the brunt of tariffs
Analyzing the true cost of tariffs on the everyday operations of small businesses and their trickle-down effects on consumers. sponsored by: National Retail Federation On November 5th, people around the world watched and waited with anticipation to learn who would be the next U.S. president in what many consider one of the most historic and consequential elections to date.
Improving Elephant Care Through Education
feature Improving Elephant Care Through Education min read Last winter, Mercedes Vigil felt a little nervous as she traveled from her home in Albuquerque, N.M., to Leesburg, Va. For the next week, she’d be attending the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Principles of Elephant Management I classes.
Responding to a friendship recession
When Phil Clarke was in his early 70s, he set a goal: to make new friends. This was in 2021, and Clarke felt he’d drifted far from the days when he could turn to the next desk at work or school and find conversation and camaraderie. The writer and novelist does relish a bit of solitude for his creative work. But he’s also gregarious when he wants to be. He grew up with 10 younger siblings, after all. Yet, like many people his age, he was frustrated.
Air Chicago Magazine, Neighborhood Spotlight: Bronzeville
Bronzeville is rich with famous residents, architecture, and history — it peeks from the shadows of the mansion-lined boulevards and from tree-studded streets. Once home to Chicago’s own Harlem Renaissance in the early-to-mid 20th century, the district became a hub for African American musicians, artists, writers, activists, and entrepreneurs.
Air Chicago Magazine, Lupe Fiasco
By Kate Silver When Lupe Fiasco thinks back to growing up in Chicago, his mind goes to the powerful kicks, downward blocks, and intense focus he learned from his father, Gregory Jaco. Jaco taught martial arts classes to kids in some of Chicago’s most fiscally dire neighborhoods, and 37-year-old Fiasco, who is best known for his Grammy-award-winning rap music, earned his first black belt by age 10. “I have been molded in that tradition since I was a baby,” says Fiasco.
Heat is on for urban planners
Skip to main content It’s noon in mid-August and the Houston heat is creeping into triple digits. Again. Coupled with the humidity of a steam bath, it’s enough to make eyeglasses fog, airways constrict, and skin sizzle in the direct sun. All across town the heat — extreme even by Texas standards — has been unbearable for most of the summer. But in some parts of the city, it’s even worse.
DEIA Now
Charlisa Shelly grew up near Swope Park, in a predominately Black neighborhood in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium was right around the corner from where she lived, yet, it never crossed her mind that she could one day find a fulfilling career there. “No one really talked about the careers that were available. I had no idea there was a human resources department, there was finance, there was development, there was marketing,” said Shelly.
Chicago and The Pill
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks For 73-year-old Sue Straus, there is a distinct before and after in learning about the birth control pill. Before: As a high school student on Chicago’s North Side, Straus was just becoming sexually active. The pillwas not yet widely available, and the thought of pregnancy terrified her. Condoms were the best prevention option Straus knew of, but they weren’t exactly empowering fora teenage girl.
Toxic Positivity: When ‘Good Vibes Only’ Goes Too Far
When Hanna Olivas was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017, at age 42, she was angry at first, and then she was terrified. Her doctors agreed on one thing: This kind of blood cancer is incurable. But they couldn’t forecast how much time she had left to live. “One doctor told me you have about a year. Another told me you have about 5. One doctor told me 6. Another said he didn’t know,” Olivas says. Some of her friends, on the other hand, were mystifyingly upbeat.
Responding to a friendship recession
When Phil Clarke was in his early 70s, he set a goal: to make new friends. This was in 2021, and Clarke felt he’d drifted far from the days when he could turn to the next desk at work or school and find conversation and camaraderie. The writer and novelist does relish a bit of solitude for his creative work. But he’s also gregarious when he wants to be. He grew up with 10 younger siblings, after all. Yet, like many people his age, he was frustrated.
Sperm Donors May Not Be as Anonymous as They Think
In 2018, Michael B. Greene, PhD, received a letter that took his breath away. A woman who might be his biological daughter was looking to connect. He knew it was possible. In the 1970s, he donated sperm many times to make some extra cash as a graduate student in New York City. At the time, he’d signed an anonymity contract.
What’s Old Is New: How Unique Vintage Turned Into a Booming Online Business
Even before she had the vocabulary for it, Katie Echeverry was an entrepreneur. Growing up in Burbank, California, she had a paper route and worked at a fish store to earn spending money. “I learned at a very young age to hustle,” she says. After graduating college, she wanted a job where hard work meant a bigger paycheck. She found sales to be a good fit, especially pharmaceutical sales, where she got a company car and could work from home.
What Is Thought Leadership and How Can You Demonstrate It?
Thought leadership may sound like a lofty goal, but it’s becoming a standard practice at more and more small businesses. Thought leadership examples abound in most communities and markets. Think of the local yoga studio owner who posts ayurvedic diet guidelines online, or the cybersecurity company expert who emails guidance on how to protect against the latest hacks. Thought leaders are perceived as knowledgeable sources of insight in a chosen field or subject.
Accelerating Action To Decarbonize Healthcare in the U.S.
Originally published by Politico by Kate Silver NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Cross-sector partnership is needed to create and shape policies and practices that advance decarbonization and the energy transition more broadly, as well as building more resilience into health systems. An example of this type of cross-sector innovation in action is a new partnership between AstraZeneca and Vanguard Renewables, a leader in waste-to-renewable energy projects.
Accelerating Action To Decarbonize Healthcare in the U.S.
Originally published by Politico by Kate Silver NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Cross-sector partnership is needed to create and shape policies and practices that advance decarbonization and the energy transition more broadly, as well as building more resilience into health systems. An example of this type of cross-sector innovation in action is a new partnership between AstraZeneca and Vanguard Renewables, a leader in waste-to-renewable energy projects.
Accelerating Action To Decarbonize Healthcare in the U.S.
Originally published by Politico by Kate Silver NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Cross-sector partnership is needed to create and shape policies and practices that advance decarbonization and the energy transition more broadly, as well as building more resilience into health systems. An example of this type of cross-sector innovation in action is a new partnership between AstraZeneca and Vanguard Renewables, a leader in waste-to-renewable energy projects.
Get Quote Go Enter Symbol or Keyword(s) Timeframe to Accelerating Action To Decarbonize Healthcare in the U.S. 10:01 AM EDT 7/26/2023 - Comtex Jul 26, 2023 (3BL via COMTEX News Network) -- Originally published by Politico by Kate Silver Cross-sector partnership is needed to create and shape policies and practices that advance decarbonization and the energy transition more broadly, as well as building more resilience into health systems.
Accelerating Action To Decarbonize Healthcare In The U.S.
( MENAFN- 3BL Media Inc) originally published by politico by Kate Silver Cross-sector partnership is needed to create and shape policies and practices that advance decarbonization and the energy transition more broadly, as well as building more resilience into health systems. An example of this type of cross-sector innovation in action is a new partnership between AstraZeneca and Vanguard Renewables, a leader in waste-to-renewable energy projects.
How Smoque BBQ Became a Hot Ticket in Chicago
Barry Sorkin seemed like an unlikely person to launch a barbecue restaurant. In 2006, at age 35, he had a degree in journalism and worked for an IT consulting company. He had virtually no restaurant experience. And for most of his life, he hated brisket. But he had an appetite for risk, and a love of barbecue.
Polio’s ‘hidden figures’ in Tuskegee
Something was wrong with Myron Thompson. In 1949, as polio was sweeping the American South, the tiny toddler — just 2 years old — spiked a high fever and struggled to move. Terrified, his mother rushed him to the nearby hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama — a magnificent, red-brick building where a portico with four columns welcomed patients like a grand hotel. There, doctors and nurses who specialized in treating children with polio welcomed the child with open arms and began helping him immediately.
Second to None | American Libraries Magazine
Welcome to Chicago! We have no doubt the American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference will provide plenty of food for thought—these conferences always do. We go home with our brains bursting with new ideas, but while you’re here, don’t forget about thought for food, as well.
One coin at a time
Twelve years later, Rogers is a regional director for CART. When he travels to talk to Rotary clubs in North and South Carolina, he always asks the same question: "How many of you have been touched by Alzheimer's?" Invariably, at least 50 percent of the room raises a hand. That's because there's no cure or effective and accessible treatment. And there's much work to be done.
Banking on the Future of Conservation
For decades, zoos and aquariums have been using artificial insemination to diversify gene pools and strengthen populations. Here’s a look at some of the success stories.
Addressing manufacturing challenges in gene therapy development
Gene therapy is on the rise. As clinical success, innovation and investment in this area strengthens, Precedence Research predicts that the cell and gene therapy market will grow at a CAGR of 22 percent by 2030. Additionally, the FDA expects it will approve 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy products a year starting in 2025, based on the current clinical pipeline.
Empowering People Through Culture
A love of animals draws many zoo and aquarium employees to their careers. But in reality, working with—and around—people often makes up the bulk of the work. That’s why it’s important to contribute to a culture that draws people to their workplace, and offers value beyond the paycheck, said Misha Body, who is San Diego Zoo’s director of wildlife care and former chair of AZA’s Professional Development Committee.
Elephants Being Elephants
Evolving Science Enhances Elephant Care and Exhibit Design by Encouraging Natural Behaviors When Gregg Hudson visited Dallas Zoo in Dallas, Texas, for a job interview in 2006, he knew it was time to do something about the African elephants. In those days, the massive pair was living in a large mammal building dating back to the 1950s. Keepers would deliver food directly to the elephants and give them everything they needed as they stood around.
The demand for nanoparticles in drug formulation is rising
Demand for nanoparticles in the biopharmaceutical industry is on the rise. Production of these tiny particles, which can protect and deliver medicines and vaccines where they need to go in the body, has been increasing since 1989. Over the last two decades, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved nearly 80 products involving nanoparticles, according to a 2022 report in Pharmaceutics.
Putting a Stop to Wildlife Trafficking
How AZA Members Are Working to End the Illegal Trade The phrase “wildlife trafficking” calls to mind something happening far, far away: poachers killing elephants, rhinoceroses, pangolins, and sea turtles for parts they can then sell. But wildlife trafficking is also happening every day right here in the United States.
An unlikely cybersecurity hero: Your insurance company
In 2021, there were 623 million cyberattacks worldwide. If there’s an opportunity to enter a business’s premises undetected, cybercriminals will find it. In the digital age, no organization is safe from cyberthreats. Size doesn’t matter. A recent report by cyber insurance provider At-Bay highlights that ransomware is the biggest digital threat to American businesses, responsible for an estimated 60% of all domestic cyber insurance claims in 2020.
How Capital One’s Own Data Transformation Journey Led To The Launch Of A New Software Business
How Capital One’s own data transformation journey led to the launch of a new software business – Protocol window.REBELMOUSE_ACTIVE_TASKS_QUEUE.push(function(){ (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l="+l:"';j.async=true;j.src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id="+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);...
How Capital One’s own data transformation journey led to the launch of a new software business
Cloud computing has changed the way businesses operate. By delivering services over the internet on demand, cloud computing enables enterprises to grow and adapt quickly and efficiently, with lower costs and simpler operations than on-site infrastructure. But many business leaders aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to migrating to the cloud.
How Can Mangroves Help Turn the Tide Against Climate Change?
When Lindy Knowles thinks back to his childhood in the Bahamas, a particular tree is the backdrop of his best memories: the mangrove. Spindly, with twisted roots, mangroves thrive in tidal areas around the islands, including a creek near his grandmother’s house. Knowles learned to fish among the forests, which are home to conch, lobsters,and a variety of fish; he learned to swim in the calm waters around the trees, their roots buffering him from ocean waves.
How Can Mangroves Help Turn the Tide Against Climate Change?
This story was originally published by Rotary. When Lindy Knowles thinks back to his childhood in the Bahamas, a particular tree is the backdrop of his best memories: the mangrove. Spindly, with twisted roots, mangroves thrive in tidal areas around the islands, including a creek near his grandmother’s house.
Adapting to a Crisis
AZA’s Animal Population Management Committee and the Plan to Address the Sustainability Crisis When it comes to animal care, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. The same is true for population management. That’s been an ongoing topic of conversation for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Animal Population Management (APM) Committee, as it works on a strategic plan to address the animal population sustainability crisis within AZA.
Melodies & Memories: The Good Things Music Does For Aging Brains
Carol Rosenstein was watching her husband, Irwin, slip away inch by inch. At one time he had been a brilliant lawyer, a lover of Broadway musicals, a world traveler. But after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2006, he developed dementia, and slowly everything changed. His gait flattened to a shuffle. The sparkle in his eyes turned into a blank stare. His mood soured. Worsening matters, the medications he took caused hallucinations and extreme agitation.
Melodies and memories
Skip to main content Carol Rosenstein was watching her husband, Irwin, slip away inch by inch. At one time he had been a brilliant lawyer, a lover of Broadway musicals, a world traveler. But after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2006, he developed dementia, and slowly everything changed. His gait flattened to a shuffle. The sparkle in his eyes turned into a blank stare. His mood soured. Worsening matters, the medications he took caused hallucinations and extreme agitation.
Why Rotary is committed to mangroves
Skip to main content When Lindy Knowles thinks back to his childhood in the Bahamas, a particular tree is the backdrop of the best memories: the mangrove. Spindly, with twisted roots, mangroves thrive in tidal areas around the islands, including a creek near his grandmother’s house. Knowles learned to fish among the forests, which are home to conch, lobsters, and a variety of fish; he learned to swim in the calm waters around the trees, with those roots buffering him from ocean waves.
Sex: Frisky (and Safe) After 50 Original
“OK, so we know you're not going to get pregnant.” Sexuality educator Jane Fleishman, PhD, typically opens with this line when she goes into senior communities to talk about safe sex. It’s her way of trying to break the tension and clear the air. Sex talk can be awkward at any age, whether you’re 15 or 50-plus. Then she brings out the puppets. But these aren’t the kind you see at a children’s puppet show. They’re made in the form of male and female sex organs – a vulva and a penis.
"You Are Watching the Power of Music Changing Brain Chemistry"
This story originally appeared in Rotary magazine, the official publication of Rotary International, a service organization with 1.4 million members around the world. For more information, visit Rotary.org. Carol Rosenstein was watching her husband, Irwin, slip away inch by inch. At one time he had been a brilliant lawyer, a lover of Broadway musicals, a world traveler. But after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2006, he developed dementia, and slowly everything changed.
Strength in Numbers
Building on Advocacy Efforts At the recent Association of Zoos and Aquariums Directors’ Policy Conference, John Calvelli, executive vice president of public affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society asked attendees a question: “Do any of you work or have to deal with government officials? Do any of you have to deal with regulations at the city, state, or federal level?” Every hand in the room shot into the air.
A guide to volunteering in the outdoors
Wanted: Camp hosts to serve one month or more at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in south-central Oregon. Duties: welcoming campers and visitors; sharing information about the area; and light maintenance, repairs and cleanup at campgrounds and restrooms. Applicants should be outdoorsy, outgoing and open to living in a remote setting. (The closest Walmart is about 160 miles away.) Camp or hook up your RV at no cost in exchange for 32 hours of service a week.
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