Wonder and Hope — Mom always convinced me it would be an adventure. By Ian Anderson The Animal Keeper— Animals spoke to my mother “in a language only she understood.” By Whitney Butler La Gringa …
May 6, 2015
Back to profile
Stories by Elizabeth Salaam
Reader writers tell stories about Mom
I could lose you forever
When I am an old woman who repeats the same stories over and over again, the one I will tell of my mother will not be about the bread she baked some Saturday mornings, or …
May 6, 2015
The visionary behind the Help Neil Catch Fish Foundation
“This is it. My bones are here. San Diego is the best place on Earth.”
March 4, 2015
Meet Kleptomom
"They never look at the bottom of my cart. But if they do, I'll just say, 'Oh my gosh. Sorry. Totally forgot."
February 4, 2015
And the arts cover contest winner is ... Sarah Stieber!
Sarah Stieber paints in what she calls “Electric Realism,” a style that projects the “amplification of real life,” and uses bright, vivid colors that suggest “wishful seeing.” Stieber created “Fierce” in 2014, originally intending the …
February 4, 2015
Theater, out of the theater
Picture this: you spend the evening climbing in and out of cars where you experience a series of five-to-ten-minute plays that take place inside the cars (The Car Plays, La Jolla Playhouse, 2013–2014). Or you …
February 4, 2015
Rocket concert-goers app born at Coachella
In April 2013, Ryan Grainger and Bobby Sullivan found themselves faced with a particular First World problem at Coachella. The then-20- and 19-year-old University of San Diego students could not see all 190 performances. Although …
January 21, 2015
Sensei Dan Thoene’s got a black bracelet in arithmetic
“A kid raised his hand in the back and said, ‘How long does it take to become a black belt?’”
December 31, 2014
Don your red suit
Why not teach the teen to cook? Fashion Valley Practice and prepare for your holiday meals with hands-on cooking classes featuring instruction on classic dishes and treats from prime rib to eggnog, and from snowflake …
December 3, 2014
Second Chance finds jobs for San Diego ex-cons
The last couple of times Brenda Peterson had job openings in her court-reporting company, she filled the positions with members of an unlikely pool of candidates: ex-convicts, or more politely put, the formerly incarcerated. It …
October 15, 2014
San Diego airport art: Taxonomy of a Cloud, The Journey, Astralgraph, Signalscape
I’m standing in Terminal 2 at the San Diego International Airport on a Monday morning in early July. My escort, Constance White, the airport art program manager, leads me through the new food-court atrium, past …
October 8, 2014
Highs and lows at High Tech High
Where most school websites are built for parents who need calendar information or want to check out next year’s fourth-grade teachers, High Tech High’s is a full-fledged marketing campaign. Many of the pages include statistics, …
September 17, 2014
Free Ride – between Little Italy and the Convention Center
At a time when the taxi-versus-rideshare hubbub takes on momentum, a player slinks into San Diego and sets up shop downtown. The Free Ride offers a wave-us-down ride service in a coverage area between Little …
September 17, 2014
Have you established your brand?
Katie Wagner, president of Katie Wagner Social Media, explains the importance of social media in your job search. First, please tell me about your company and what you do. I own a social media and …
August 28, 2014
Spellchecking for dollars
Teresa Poole, from UCSD Extension, explains how you can become a copyeditor. First, please tell me about yourself. I am the program manager for several certificate programs here at UC San Diego Extension, one of …
August 14, 2014
San Diego females in construction
“When I first hired in, I would have people ask me all the time, ‘You want me to carry your tools for you?’”
August 6, 2014
Beyond the “follow your passion” rhetoric
Dev Aujla, creator of 50waystogetajob.com, might be able to help with your job search. First, tell me about yourself and how your website came to be. I am a Canadian. I started a non-profit called …
August 1, 2014
Girls in boots and hard hats
Dianne Koehle explains what it takes to get into construction. First, please tell me what you do. I’m a project coordinator. I work on jobsites maintaining submittals, drawings, correspondence, meeting minutes, material and equipment logs, …
July 20, 2014
Why people leave San Diego
San Diego's income: 12.3% above the nation's average. San Diego's cost of living: 29.2% higher than the nation's average.
July 16, 2014
An eye (and a pen) for fashion
Rebekah Sager offers insight into what it takes to become a fashion writer. First, please tell me what you do. I currently work as the social media editor and a reporter at the U-T San …
July 3, 2014
I've regained my confidence
Sherry Luft is a participant and founding member of the Job Seekers Club at South Metro Career Center. Let’s start with what line of work you’re in. How and when did you become unemployed? I …
June 19, 2014
Chillin’ inside Paras newsstand with the man of 4000 titles
Paras Newsstand in North Park offers Soap Opera Digest, Cheetos, clove cigs, and a whole lot of this and that.
June 18, 2014
The three traits of a successful real estate agent
Joda Mize, founder of Girl’s Guide to Real Estate, discusses what it takes to get into the real estate business. First, please tell me a little bit about your background? Well, I moved to San …
June 5, 2014
People don’t buy what you do
Kim Mohiuddin, chief career storyteller at Movin’ On Up Résumés, compares the résumé to the curriculum vitae and offers tips for both. Let’s start with the brief answer to the difference between a résumé and …
May 22, 2014
The nature of the swap meet
Need extra money? Anthony Pretto invites you to sell your wares at Kobey’s Swap Meet. Tell me about the swap meet. Kobey’s Swap Meet was founded in 1976 by my grandfather Monte. It started with …
May 8, 2014
Put a pink mustache on your car
Emily Moberly says you, too, can use your car to make a little extra money. What is Lyft? Lyft is a better alternative to a cab! It’s your “friend with a car” as they say …
April 24, 2014
Ginn’s discomfort
After meeting Samantha Ginn twice, I’m left with the impression that at the end of a long day, when the rest of us drink beer, snap at our children, or numb our brains on reruns …
April 23, 2014
Active pursuit of happiness
Author Henry S. Miller explains why happiness may have everything to do with the success of your job search. How did you become so interested in happiness? When I read one of the very first …
April 10, 2014
Noah Homes, an upside to Down syndrome
The residents deserve to live as well as anyone else, not better.
April 2, 2014
Big hearts wanted
Eric Wray, human resources and operations manager at Noah Homes, might have a job for you. First, please tell me about Noah Homes. Noah Homes is a Catholic organization serving all faiths, whose mission is …
March 27, 2014
Camp Lots-a-jobs
Frank Kasunic explains how you can get work as a YMCA camp counselor. First, please tell me what you do. I’m the recruiter for the YMCA of San Diego County, which serves 390,000 members and …
March 13, 2014
It's all free – San Diego Continuing Education
A couple of years ago, my friend Tina Frantz began taking a San Diego Continuing Education course to help develop her handbag business. All I knew for sure was that Tina was suddenly unavailable by …
March 12, 2014
I recommend Purple Cow
Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub, offers five bold tips for success. Tell me about Hera Hub. Hera Hub is a shared, flexible work and meeting space where business women can create and collaborate in …
February 27, 2014
Beyond Race
In 1973, if you’d asked 15-year-old Andrea Rushing if he’d rather meet Salvador Dalí or Michael Jackson, he would have picked Salvador Dalí. “I was probably the only black boy in the South whose hero …
February 26, 2014
Pop-ups in Bonita, Hillcrest, Del Mar
I stand on Kettner Boulevard experiencing a tinge of regret that I’m already married. Not because my eyes feast on some hunk of fine-ass man but because I’m witnessing the wedding I kinda wish I’d …
February 19, 2014
Wear pants to your job interview
Megan Johnson of TipsyWriter.com, explains that yes, you really should wear pants to your Skype interview. First, please tell me what you do? I’m going to avoid job titles here because those can be boring …
February 13, 2014
Corps values
Geneva Karwoski explains how Urban Corps can help you get work ready. What is Urban Corps? Urban Corps is a certified local conservation corps and WASC-accredited charter high school that offers young adults a chance …
January 30, 2014
Meet the Dishcrawl Ambassador
On a Tuesday evening in late September, Lindsay Marks stands in the center of a group of people at Spike Africa’s Fresh Fish Grill and Bar on Broadway. She wears a cheek-stretcher of a smile …
January 29, 2014
Theo Tucker bikes, swims, and runs to find his sporting identity again
She's like, "It's cycling, running, and swimming stuff." And I'm like, "I don't swim."
January 22, 2014
The biggest mistake people make on their résumés
Kim Mohiuddin is a nationally certified résumé writer, president of both MovinOnUpResumes.com and Authentic Executive Careers, and Certification Chair for the National Résumé Writers’ Association. Why don’t you start by telling me exactly what you …
January 16, 2014
Time rescued
Joe Hruska, founder of RescueTime, explains how you can become more efficient in your job search or job upgrade process. First, please tell me about RescueTime. What’s the story behind it? RescueTime began as a …
January 2, 2014
Polite persistence is the key
Grant Cooper explains how to best use the Internet in your job search. First, please tell me what you do. For the past 19 years, I have operated a résumé writing and career coaching business …
December 19, 2013
The life of a San Diego's adjunct professor
Interviews with adjunct professors who realize that the colleges and universities that employ them never intend to give them tenure. Most teachers who make a living out of it have to hold down more than one job.
December 18, 2013
I don’t need approval from a superior
Vaughn Brown, creative director and founder of Parker Dusseau (ParkerDusseau.com), explains the perks and challenges of being a new business owner. Tell me a little bit about your job history. I was in sales and …
November 21, 2013
Like pub crawls, but we visit restaurants
Lindsay Marks explains what it takes to be a Dishcrawl Ambassador. First, tell me about Dishcrawl. Dishcrawls are kind of like pub crawls, but we visit restaurants instead. It’s not your typical tour company. Rather, …
November 7, 2013
Work-at-home wisdom
Matt Keener, author of Executive in Sweatpants, says he can help you find success among the growing ranks of those who work from home. First, tell me a little bit about your story. After graduating …
October 24, 2013