I’d like to share a note of reflection on former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died over the weekend (November 19, 2023) at her home in Plains, Georgia at the age of 96.
As a former Georgia resident myself, I was well aware of, and often inspired by, the humanitarian work that both First Lady Rosalynn and her husband former President Jimmy Carter carried out, side by side all over the world for decades.
I have been especially touched by Mrs. Carter's mental health advocacy work.
I had the opportunity to meet the Carters in 2007 at the Carter Center in Atlanta during my tenure, completing the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship.
And I have received a holiday card from them every year since. I'll cherish that card even more this year.
I can honestly say that completing that fellowship, which was founded in 1996, long before it was widely embraced in the mainstream, has sparked a deep passion and dedication for me and other fellow journalists to write and report on mental health issues. And for that, I will be forever grateful.
Thank you Mrs. Carter, and congratulations on a job well done.
