Author of THE DEVIL'S HALF ACRE & SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, a New York Times bestseller. she/her
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Articles by Kristen Green
The Erased Lives of Enslaved Women Forced to Have the Children of Their Enslavers
When she was about thirteen years old, Mary Lumpkin gave birth to a baby girl, the daughter of Robert Lumpkin. Martha Dabney Lumpkin was born enslaved, just like her mother. Like Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a Virginia-born enslaved woman forced to have a child with her enslaver even though “she did not wish to give him life,” Mary Lumpkin may not have wanted a child.
How Mary Lumpkin Liberated the South’s Most Notorius Slave Jail
Kristen Green & Carolivia Herron April 13, 2022 Just in time for Passover, Lilith is proud to present the liberation story of contributor Carolivia Herron’s foremother, who was born into, and escaped, bondage. With an introduction from Herron, the following is an excerpt from “The Devil’s Half Acre: The Untold Story of How One Woman Liberated the South’s Most Notorious Slave Jail” by Kristen Green. A book about one of my ancestors just came out. Her name is Mary Lumpkin.
The Enslaved Woman Who Liberated a Slave Jail and Transformed It Into an HBCU Original
The cobblestone streets of downtown Richmond, Virginia, gently slope to a low-lying area where a dark history is hidden. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Shockoe Bottom is marked by throbbing nightclubs, an advertising agency, and a smattering of cafés, hotels and restaurants. Tobacco warehouses perched on the James River are now stylish lofts. Interstate 95 roars over the neighborhood, and Amtrak rails run alongside the highway, shuttling passengers to the historic Main Street Station.
Fighting for Justice: When our institutions do not serve
Authors Benjamin Gilmer (The Other Dr. Gilmer) and Chip Jones (The Organ Thieves) explore true stories at the intersection of the medical world and the legal world. Chronicling failures of the incarceral system and the history of medical mistreatment of African Americans as well as the narratives that attend both, these books convey, contextualize, and critique institutional injustices. In conversation with Kristen Green. Book sales and signing will follow.
The Devil's Half Acre: The Untold Story of How One Woman Liberated the South's Most Notorious Slave Jail|Hardcover
"Rescued from the horror of slavery and the neglect of history, Mary Lumpkin’s life story in The Devil’s Half Acre is one of tenacity, endurance, courage, and achievement." —Margot Lee Shetterly, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Hidden Figures “A remarkable achievement.
Illinois Fitness Alliance to Offer Free Access to Healthcare Workers
The Illinois Fitness Alliance and Chicago Medical Society (CMS) have joined together to offer front-line healthcare workers complimentary access to certain fitness facilities between December 14, 2020, and February 1, 2021. CMS represents more than 17,000 physicians and licensed healthcare professionals across Chicago’s Cook County. The Illinois Fitness Alliance represents over 1,275 fitness clubs, boutiques and studios, in addition to manufacturers and suppliers.
Retro Fitness CEO
Andrew Alfano, the CEO of Retro Fitness, issues a challenge to all governors to separate gyms from restaurants and bars amid shutdowns. On December 8, the U.S.surpassed 15 million total reported Covid-19 infections, according to CNN. As a result, many states across the country are implementing additional restrictions, impacting gyms in various states.
Rebuilding Trust in Gyms this New Year
Kristen Green December 4, 2020 Kristen Green, the executive general manager of Aquafit in Australia, shares the importance of rebuilding trust in gyms in 2021. Wherever you are in the world, the one thing all fitness businesses have in common is COVID-19 has impacted, perhaps irreversibly, the way we do business. For most, membership numbers are far from pre-COVID levels with cancelations and freezes at unprecedented high levels.
Cleaning and Sanitizing: Don't Let Up
Anton K Conlon December 4, 2020 Anton Conlon, the CEO of Gold’s Gym El Paso, explains that while the dust may have settled, don’t let up on cleaning and sanitizing. We all scrambled, panicked, stressed and went into damage control mode when we had to close our clubs. We equally all needed to blindly learn how to reopen or learn from others on how to do it — some are still waiting for the green light. It’s been a huge learning curve for our industry.
Committing to Culture
A great company culture is critical to every business, not just health clubs. Among the many ways to measure success — i.e. new memberships, retention and revenue — your company culture is one of the least tangible but most important metrics to determine where your business is in the next few years. “Culture is everything we do,” said Kristen Green, the executive general manager of AquaFit in Australia. “It is linked to our business goals, values and mission statement.
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup
Kristen Green September 1, 2020 As emotionally intelligent leaders, we’re often focused on the well-being of our team — in supporting them to achieve personal and organizational objectives. It seems almost counterintuitive when we say in order to be a great leader, we need to focus on ourselves. But in fact, focusing on ourselves through managing our own well-being is the best thing we can do to support our team.
Personal Training in a Pandemic
Vivian Griggs September 1, 2020 The fitness industry has changed dramatically, and no area more so than personal training. Everyone is scrambling to rethink how business is conducted. How do you effectively train a client when you can’t get closer than six feet? It may not even be in person; how do you train them via the internet? The overwhelming consensus for success during these strange times is to be flexible and proactive.
Imposter Syndrome, The Thief of Joy
Kristen Green January 5, 2020 As they say, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” If we continually compare ourselves with others, we will always feel second best. In a world where success and failure are viewed through the lens of social media, it’s becoming increasingly more challenging to escape the comparison with others — or perhaps worse still, the feeling you’re not the person others think you are.
Creating a Bully-free Workplace Culture
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock By definition, workplace bullying means any behavior that is “repeated, systematic and directed toward an employee or group of employees that a reasonable person, having regard to the circumstances, would expect to victimize, humiliate, undermine or threaten, and which creates a risk to health.” Key findings from the June 2017 Workplace Bullying Institute U.S. survey indicated that over 60 million Americans are affected by bullying (19% are bullied and another...
Leading With Strengths
IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK It seems almost counterintuitive that we should focus our efforts on developing and working to our strengths, rather than always working to “fix” or improve our weaknesses. Yet, this is exactly the approach that will yield the best productivity, creativity, team culture and cohesion within your business.
Kristen Green: How Ancestry.com has failed African American customers
(Screenshot taken from an advertising video on Ancestry.com's YouTube channel) Pictured is a frame from a controversial commercial run by Utah-based company Ancestry.com. When Ancestry.com unveiled an advertisement last month that seemed to romanticize slavery, the multibillion dollar genealogy company was roundly criticized.
Perspective | How Ancestry.com has failed African American customers
The genealogy site fails to understand the fundamental differences between white and black history. This is an undated photo of an illustration of pre-Civil war life depicting African men in slave pens in Washington D.C. circa 1849-1850.
Lead Your Team Through Change
IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK As the Greek Philosopher Heraclitus famously said, “The only thing that is constant is change,” and although change can be positive, for many, just the prospect of change causes anxiety and fear. As the fitness industry changes constantly, it is imperative that as leaders we are on the forefront of managing change.
Challenge Your Members to New Year's Weight Loss Success
The New Year brings an influx of new members seeking our services to achieve their weight loss and lifestyle goals. Our existing members are also looking for something innovative to “kick start” their training programs and keep them motivated. When planning your programs for the upcoming year, a great way to assist members with their New Year’s weight loss goals is to offer a short-term weight loss challenge. Why not include an “8 Week Challenge” in your plans?
Five-Point Retention Strategy For Success
While we often take the time and effort to budget and strategize for sales success, it is equally important to develop and implement a retention strategy for your business. The following steps are important: Know your numbers: Understanding what your retention rate is provides a valuable tool in getting a snapshot of the financial health of the business.
Engage to Retain
It’s common knowledge that the rate of change in the fitness industry is at unprecedented levels, however, despite this innovation and improvement, the same can’t always be said about the quality of service on many gym floors. Younger team members often lack confidence to engage with members (especially older members) or those who they perceive they don’t have anything in common with.
Girl Power Alert! LEGO Intros New Female Scientist Set
We have mega love for all things LEGO at Brit + Co., so the recent announcement revealing an all-new female-focused minifigure set as the next LEGO Idea to be produced has us super stoked! The set is titled “Research Institute” and will feature an astronomer, chemist and paleontologist. And, yup, all are women. The idea was submitted by Dr. Ellen Kooijman, a Geochemist from Stockholm.
Being Resilient is a Key Leadership Trait for Club Owners
It’s no secret the pace of doing business today is hectic. As leaders in the fitness industry, we are also facing the additional demands of keeping pace with an industry that has experienced large-scale disruption, exponential levels of growth and increasing consumer demands. Therefore, today more than ever, leaders need to be able to navigate the changing environment and deliver results for their teams and businesses.
How Kristen Green Became the Role Model She Never Had
I am truly humbled and honoured to be the 2018 recipient of IHRSA's Woman Leader Award in honor of Julie Main. I am especially privileged to be the first Australian woman to receive this recognition. It is my hope that, through my own story, I can inspire, empower, and motivate other women on their own journey to achieve their professional goals. I am confident in my ability and my professional path today, but this wasn’t always the case.
3 Ways Your Gym Can Create a Supportive Workplace for Women
In recent months, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to have missed the news stories shining a light on the many challenges women face in the workplace. The truth is, all employees should be able to participate in, and contribute to, the progress and success of an organization, and organizational leaders play an important role in creating a culture where employees are comfortable doing so.
Study: Food craving is 'hard-wired' for obese people
One in three American adults is considered obese, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidneys Diseases. But, is your food craving linked to your waistline? Sciencedaily.com reported the results of a new study that shows that the brains of obese people and those of a normal weight respond differently to food cravings.
Man has world’s largest penis?
A 52-year-old man in Mexico is filing for disability because he says his penis is too big, leaving him unable to work. Roberto Esquivel Cabrera told the Mexican newspaper Vanguardia that he cannot have a relationship because women are afraid of his 19-inch penis. Looks like the current record holder for penis length, Jonah Falcon, has been dethroned -- his appendage measures a mere 13.5-inches.
Student rides on Barbie Jeep after DWI arrest
"I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world. Life in plastic, it's fantastic!" Those classic lyrics could also be the theme for 20-year-old Texas State student Tara Monroe, who tools around her college campus in a bright pink Barbie Jeep. The unique mode of transportation has thrust her into the social media spotlight. Monroe's plight from gas-powered vehicle to battery-operated Barbie Jeep began when her driver's license was suspended after refusing a breathalyzer test, according to MySanAntonio.com.
Awesome: Twitter’s new perk for new moms
A few things about Twitter you may not have realized: It’s item #3 that’s generating a lot of buzz. In an effort to fortify the company’s diversity efforts, Twitter has devised a program that enables women to pump breast milk and ship it back via Fedex to their hungry babies. Fortune interviewed Holly Murphy, one of nine women who signed up to participate in the program when it was first introduced.
Read this if you like naps and have high blood pressure
According to a new study, taking a midday nap may help lower your blood pressure. Researchers at Asklepieion Voula Hospital in Athens, Greece, conducted the study and presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual conference on Saturday. “…[M]idday naps seem to lower blood pressure levels and may probably also decrease the number of required antihypertensive medications,” said lead researcher Dr. Manolis Kallistratos in a press release.
Smart pill: Is it cheating?
Once again, a drug meant for one condition turns out to have an application for which it was not intended. Such is the case with modafinil, a drug meant to help people with narcolepsy stay focused during the day.
Year-round three-day weekends for all?
Recent studies suggest that all work and no play not only makes Jack a dull boy, but that being on the job 24/7 could contribute to health problems including risk of stroke. And now an economics expert is making the case for year-round, four-day work weeks, arguing they may have physical and mental health benefits -- and that they may boost productivity. In other words, bring on the three-day weekends.
Study: Dads shop more than moms
When a man becomes a father, two things happen: he shops more and spends more—even more than mom! A recent Y&R study of more than 8,000 North American fathers examines the buying habits of the modern dad, and the results may surprise you. Millennial dads are redefining fatherhood and becoming more involved in child-rearing than before. For example, according to the “Who’s Your Daddy” study, a whopping 80% of millennial dads are the primary grocery shoppers for the household.
Buy The Book - KRISTEN GREEN
Buy The Book Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County: A Family, a Virginia Town, a Civil Rights Battle The story of a Virginia community that defied the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling. When ordered by a federal court to desegregate the public schools in 1959, white leaders instead chose to close them. On Bookshelves Now. The public schools would remain shut for five years, depriving hundreds of black children – and some white children – of an education.
Pics: #NewDrDrew photo booth fun!
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