PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
"Elaine Makas Ph.D. enjoyed a career in education that spanned more than 40 years and included being a University of Michigan-Flint professor, a public school teacher, an administrator, and a consultant for failing schools in the areas of curriculum and accreditation through her company Curriculum Connections, LLC. Dr. Makas earned degrees from Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and Saginaw Valley State Universities. She obtained her doctorate in educational leadership from Oakland University. Dr. Makas wrote A Young Man on the Front Line: Lessons of War from her late father's perspective by compiling the stories he told while she was growing up, along with his battlefield journal entries that chronicled both the tragic and amusing stories of his World War II experience. He fought on the front line of the Southern Invasion of Germany in 1944 as part of Company B, 255th Regiment, 1st Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division. After helping to liberate Germany and the concentration camp at Landsberg from the Nazis, he returned to Detroit in 1946 to marry and raise three children. She authored two educational books: From Mandate to Achievement (Corwin, 2010) and Career Pathways: Preparing Students for Life co-authored with Pam Ill (Corwin, 2004). Elaine is very proud of her four sons, Mark (Rochelle), Benjamin, Jacob, and Samuel, and her three grandchildren, Sarah, Ethan, and Joshua. She enjoys life with Fred List and engaging in writing, oil painting, nature, horseback riding, and traveling. ""I wrote this book to pay tribute to my dad's life and story,"" says Dr. Makas, who lives in Frankenmuth, Michigan. ""I think young people, millennials, and Baby Boomers alike will enjoy becoming fellow travelers with my father on his journey of war, trauma, adaptation, and self-acceptance while contemplating universal lessons of war."" Writing his story during her battle with cancer strengthened her to endure grueling treatments that resulted in remission. Dr. Makas hopes that middle and high school social studies and English teachers will use the book to help young people understand how World War II helped shape our world today. Elizabeth Ann Atkins is Co-Creator of Two Sisters Writing & Publishing, an Emmy Award nominated TV show host, a journalist, book coach, inspirational speaker, certified meditation teacher, a fitness enthusiast, and author of 33 books. Elizabeth has a master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan. She loves to help people cultivate their book ideas into a published format to share with readers everywhere! Her memoir-God's Answer Is Know: Lessons From a Spiritual Life-chronicles her life story and shares her spiritual awakening, along with tools anyone can use to deepen their connection to the Divine and live a more joyous, healthy, peaceful, prosperous, and influential life. Elizabeth co-hosts the Emmy Award nominated MI Healthy Mind, a weekly TV show that aims to shatter stigmas around mental illness and addiction. All episodes are at MIHealthyMind.com The Oprah Winfrey Show featured Elizabeth as a guest to celebrate her 100-pound weight loss and lifestyle as a health and fitness enthusiast. Elizabeth and her sister Catherine M. Greenspan co-created Two Sisters Writing & Publishing, which: publishes their books; provides ghostwriting, publishing, and book coaching services; and hosts monthly writing contests and the Two Sisters Writing Club; and showcases their blog, A Tale of Two Sisters. They are launching the Two Sisters Writing & Publishing Virtual Speakers Agency in Fall of 2020 to enable their speakers to share messages of Diversity & Inclusion and other Inspiration to audiences around the world. The Two Sisters also teach people how to unleash their power through meditation and a writing technique Elizabeth invented and trademarked called PowerJournal that they created and share in workbooks. Elizabeth and Catherine have written and published dozens of books, and including their mother's book, The Triumph of Rosemary: A Memoir, by Judge Marylin E. Atkins. Elizabeth has a master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan. She studied French at Collège de Rivière-du-Loupe in Québec, Canada. Elizabeth is an inspiring speaker who recites her autobiographical poem, White Chocolate, and has spoken at Columbia University, the University of Michigan, GM's World Diversity Day, Gannett, DaimlerChrysler, 100 Black Men of America, the NAACP, Beaumont Hospital, PowerNetworking, Comerica Bank, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the American Library Association. She has taught writing at Wayne State University, Oakland University, Wayne County Community College District, and at national conferences. As an actress, Elizabeth plays a major role in the feature-length film Anything Is Possible, nominated for ""Best Foreign Film"" by the Nollywood and African Film Critics Association. She composed an original screenplay, Redemption, a gritty drama about a Detroit gangster and a writer. And Elizabeth plays a 1950s journalist in the international shipwreck drama, The Andrea Doria: Are The Passengers Saved? A former Fox 2 Detroit News writer, she has been a guest on Montel, NPR, Good Morning America Sunday, The CBS Evening News, several BET programs, and other national TV shows. After writing her master's thesis about mixed-race Americans, her work appeared in The New York Times. Her articles have also been published in The San Diego Tribune, Essence, Ebony, HOUR Detroit, HOUR Home, HOUR Bride, BET.com, Ms., BLAC Detroit, and The Detroit News, where her articles on race were nominated for The Pulitzer Prize. She also wrote a biography for the Presidential Medal of Freedom tribute for Rosa Parks."
David Poyer, author of Violent Peace and Heroes of Annapolis: A memoir that reminds us some lessons must never be forgotten. Brady Schuler, Master Teacher, U.S. History: A Young Man on the Front Line is a powerful look at how true courage is summoned under the most extreme of circumstances. This book will make you think BIGGER! A must-read for today's Generation Z high school students. Col. Ben M. Colcol, (ret) US Army Corps of Engineers, Chief Engineer, 63rd ARCOM, 1984: A Young Man on the Front Line is about one of the untold millions swept up by events beyond their youthful understanding; this book is about one soldier who was a cast member of a generation. Kyle Walker, Central Michigan University Student Government: A Young Man on the Front Line... made me laugh, cry, and recognize the hardships that so many people have endured for our country. As we look to the future, of what lies next for our country, we should rely on the example and heroism of Chris Makas and so many other unsung heroes. Thank you for your service, Sgt. Chris Makas! Charlene Dick, Master Teacher: A Young Man on the Front Line would work wonderfully well in any high school English classroom. The content lends itself to rich classroom discussion on the story itself, connections to young adult struggles today. Dr. Ricks Warren, University of Michigan Depression Center: ...many people have heard the terms horrors of war and PTSD. Despite these traumas, Chris remains able to see our common humanity, in the German soldiers he fought and in our universal suffering. The lessons from this book can help all of us live a more meaningful and compassionate life. Pamela Ross McClain, Ph.D., Professor of Education, UM-Flint: A Young Man on the Front Line... is a beacon of hope to all who must conquer the battles of inner warfare to live fully and emerge as victors. Rev. John Becker: In A Young Man on the Front Line, a daughter gives voice to her father, gathering together his own records of his experience in World War II as a young man and the lessons in life it taught him. Powerful pictures and her own experience of the father who loved her inform her account... that we need to hear today. Kersten Kimmerly, LMSW: In these tenderly written words, we can truly experience Chris' account as he suffered the conflict, turmoil, and persistent trauma of war and beyond. In A Young Man on the Front Line: Lessons of War, Chris' daughter lovingly shares this wisdom with all of us through his story. Elizabeth Ann Atkins, Two Sisters Writing & Publishing: Swept away... horrified... enchanted... inspired. Enjoy this beautiful story that celebrates honor, love, and freedom. Sergeant Makas' spirit will touch all who read these pages.
