iPondr

A few years ago, Sarah Narjes was part of a team overseeing construction of Allegiant Stadium, the $1.9 billion facility where the Las Vegas Raiders now play. “I had my first kid as a project executive on an NFL stadium,” Narjes recalled. “That was pretty gnarly.” One day her boss called with news of another project — and the opportunity for her to lead it.

Close All Programs Communities Economy Culture Science Currents Christophe Zajac-Denek Christophe Zajac-Denek hosts and produces “I’m Kind of a Big Deal,” a podcast about little people. As someone who is four feet, 4 inches tall with a rare form of dwarfism, he sees life through a specialized lens. Zajac-Denek has worked as an actor, stuntman, touring rock-and-roll drummer, and TV producer.

Monica Desai and Kami Ekins are two well-educated, highly skilled women — the kind of talent American businesses need to innovate and grow. But at a certain point in their lives, both women felt they needed to make a hard, if not impossible choice: family or career. “The culture that I was raised in taught that women should stay home and raise a family, if possible,” said Ekins, who didn’t start her full-time accounting career until her late 40s.

Holidays represent culture, a way for people to take time off to celebrate, express gratitude, gather, mourn and sit in quiet places of reflection. They encompass traditions that remind us of our ancestry and lineage and culture, or make us remember and celebrate those who have come before us. Ideally, designated national holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Memorial Day give us an opportunity to pause and reflect.

I turned to my sister, spoonful of vinaigrette in hand. “Taste this.” She makes a face. “It’s … good.” “You already made a face.” “Well, it’s really … mustardy.” I couldn’t taste the mustard, nor the garlic, nor the lemon juice, nothing. And yet, I had a deep craving for this vegetarian Caesar salad and a deep need to make one, and a deep need to share it with my family, just as I would have any other day of my life. My craving to make and share food did not disappear with my taste and smell.