if you have not seen the 2-page article I wrote in October, 2020, which appeared in the November issue, 2020 of the new magazine Northbrook Living, then this is a great time to learn about how my life changed dramatically when I moved to Chicago. This is a biographical look at the last thirty plus years of my life. I will be sharing sections from the article in the chronological order they appear in the magazine, and incorporating varied photos along the way.
HOW I CREATED MY ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGN AND WHERE IT IS HEADED
by Dr. Elana Ashley
SECTION I
Over three decades ago, I decided to move to the Chicago area. One of my first jobs was with Highland Park Hospital. With a doctoral degree in Ugaritology from NYU, this connection was really great because my dissertation dealt with “healers.” The hospital administrators had purchased the rights to a health and safety series called KidSafe, which focused on child abuse prevention programs for young children.
For six years, accompanied by my friend and colleague, Puppet Ellie Elephant, I talked with kids about coping strategies for abusive issues in schools, homes and in the community. To add a more personal touch to the programs, I created posters for display and wrote poems and songs that Ellie and I recited and/or sang for enthusiastic audiences.
The Multi-Talented Entrepreneur Dr. Elana Ashley