Raising Myself (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780984248926)

Carla Lee Brooks Johnston earned a B.A. in Religion from the College of Wooster in Ohio, an M.A. from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, and was awarded three post-graduate fellowships at Harvard. She raised two children, and--a former foster-child herself--she provided a home for two foster children. She intentionally combined university teaching, writing nine books, and public policy making saying each endeavor added insight to the others. She has applied her education to strategic planning, effective public budgeting and the role of the media in public policy. She thinks it important to link the human consequences of policy decisions to tax policy and bricks and mortar decisions. She has lectured in 34 countries on 6 continents. She thrives on encouraging people to engage in civic life as participants not spectators-to use initiative, courage and persistence to improve the quality of life. She delights in finding opportunities for people to bring insight, wisdom and sensitivity that spread hope rather than despair. She agrees with the saying that "all politics are local" and thinks many of our national problems persist because we ignore that fact and rely too much on being cheering spectators or picketers, or media soundbite advocates. Change Makers speaks to avenues for people to make change who are not on the extremes of American politics. Most satisfying ventures include helping create a new era for Somerville, MA, a decaying city; being one of several public officials to instill incentives for service improvement and cost reduction in the huge bureaucracy of the Boston transportation system (MBTA); more recently, as a Mayor of Sanibel, Florida, bringing closer collaboration between Army Corp biologists and engineers to mitigate dangers of Lake Okeechobee water release policies in SW Florida; and, as chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, triggering the return of the corrupted "Coconut Road" $10M federal earmark to the U.S. Congress and stimulating efforts that further highlighted earmark corruption. She enjoys writing, walking Sanibel beaches, reading, travel and exchanging text messages with her grandchildren. Her latest book, Change Makers: Four Stories is now available. www.carlabrooksjohnston.com