This presidents' holiday weekend, Bay area residents had several opportunities to meet and hear an extraordinary woman -- Susan L. Taylor.  For 37 years she was associated with Essence magazine.    Her new passion is the National CARES mentoring movement, which she founded several years ago (www.caresmentoring.com). 

On Sunday she spoke at all three services of the East Bay Church of Religious Science.   Monday evening Susan spoke and signed books at Barnes & Noble in Jack London Square; every one of her books sold out.  And Tuesday, I believe she was  the keynote speaker at Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' Model City Summit on Women. 

Susan has said:  "Caring adults can offer our children the compassion, guidance and encouragement they need to build happy, productive and self-sustaining lives.  None of the negative forces imperiling our children's lives is stronger than our love and commitment." 

Susan's books include the following titles:  ALL ABOUT LOVE, IN THE SPIRIT, and LIFE LESSONS.