A lot came out of my conversation with Dr. Alisha Benner, a palliative medicine physician within the Duke University Health System who is also a wife, mom, friend, outdoor and exercise enthusiast, dedicated elections volunteer and foodie, among many other titles. We talked about our shared love of hiking the Eno River and Duke Forest, as well as our rescue pets – hers are pups Harper and Cleo and cats Sadie and Noah. In fact, the only point we really disagreed on was whether or not you could have too many animals.
One topic in particular hit that latent part of my brain where I bury thoughts until I feel like I have some actual time to think about them – if you’re a woman, I imagine you might know the feeling. Well, editing this issue brought these thoughts to the forefront.
The mental load is real. I look at women who I perceive to have an unfathomable amount on their plate, and who appear to balance that weight much better than I feel I ever could – how do they do it? I revere them, and think, “If that’s how they handle life’s pressures, why can’t I manage my inbox better?” It’s an enduring, cyclical struggle.
Dr. Benner – Alisha – spelled it out much more succinctly and eloquently than I could ever hope to: “The biggest obstacle is time and the challenge to do it all,” she told me. “There’s only 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and the reality is you can ‘do it all,’ but not all at the same time. If you want to work a lot, you’ll have less time at home with kids, if you have them. If you work less, you’ll rise slower through the hierarchy and have fewer professional accomplishments. Women still have to constantly balance and make choices that most men do not.”
There was a pause, while I wrote down the quote while mentally snapping my fingers. Then she added, “That should be on billboards.”
Her testimonial barely scratches the surface of the nuggets of wisdom, truth and courage that you’ll find in the stories of our 12th annual women’s issue, beginning on page 51. I hope that, like me, you’ll uncover insights that resonate in these inspiring interviews, or advice that can be applied to your own journey. – Executive Editor Amanda MacLaren
51 WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
52 Cicely Mitchell
Co-owner, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room
54 Linda Shropshire
Founding gallery director, Ella West Gallery
56 Janet Lee
Founder and owner, ZenFish Poke Bar
60 Dr. Alisha Benner
Palliative medicine physician, Duke University Health System
Assistant professor, Duke University School of Medicine
Program director, Duke Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
64 Barbara Lee Smith
Mixed media textile artist
68 Tiffany Griffin
Co-founder and CEO, Bright Black
70 Vicky Garcia
President and CEO, Latino Community Credit Union
72 Dr. Desiree T. Palmer
Dentist and owner, Bull City Dental and A New Reason to Smile
76 Suzanne Rousso
Artistic director, Mallarmé Music
78 M. Letitia Hubbard
Instructor of engineering and mentorship research, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
HOME & GARDEN
80 DIY Delight
An inside look at a design pro’s remodel of her own ranch-style home
98 New to the Neighborhood
Nanas’ most recent iteration embodies culinary excellence amid an elegant and glossy interior design
104 Growing Greener
Tips from local experts on eco-friendly home and gardening practices
RETIREMENT
108 Better With Age
Local programs and offerings designed to engage with and empower older adults
DURHAM INC.
130 Navigating the Golden Years
Vital strategies, expert insights and community resources for successful aging
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
10 Go.See.Do.
Spring’s top events
30 Noted.
What we’ve heard around our city …
134 Engagement & Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style
PEOPLE & PLACES
16 Book Harvest’s Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration
18 Caring House’s Benefit Gala at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
20 Meals on Wheels Durham’s Feed the Need Gala
22 NC Rare & Vintage Beer Tasting at Durham Athletic Park
SPONSORED CONTENT
23 The Big Give
Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved
91 Adopt-A-Pet
Meet two adoptable pets waiting on their forever homes at the Animal Protection Society of Durham
