Role models are truly vital to a healthy and resilient community. I’m not just saying that, that is science. Luckily, this community has so many wonderful people with amazing talents and impressive stories that it would be impossible to share them all.  

We are also lucky that there are certain events, like the recent Women of Distinction Awards, that give us the chance to honor some of these local icons. Interestingly, the recipient of the Lifelong Learner Award this weekend, Linda Chamberlain, could tell you about the science behind how role models can make a community resilient.

Linda has been working on the forefront with researchers around the country who have been clearly demonstrating how the effects of childhood trauma can follow a person into adulthood and manifest as seemingly unrelated disease, illness and social hardships.

I attended one of Linda’s presentations here in Homer myself and I was stunned.  Keep in mind that I am more likely to know what makes a carrot in my garden grow than what makes a human tick, but even with my lack of medical background her words were clear.

To continue reading this column by Kyra Wagner, go to: http://homernews.com/homer-new...n-change-a-community