As a young mother, Miriam Haas was concerned about food safety for her family. She embarked on a “local food” journey that has resulted in the formation of Community Markets which has started more than 20 local farm markets in Westchester and Rockland Counties and Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, using produce from dozens of upstate farms.

We interview Katherine Arnoldi, author of several books including the graphic novel The Amazing “True” Story of a Teenage Single Mom. Arnoldi has developed the organization CollegeMomMagazine.org to provide information about how to navigate the challenges of continuing one’s education while mothering. In as many venues as possible, including homeless shelters, she spreads the magical words that changed her life as a teenage single mom — “financial aid.” Arnoldi describes her favorite cartoon of a mother dressed in graduation robes holding her daughter. The caption reads, “Thank you, Mom, for taking me to your graduation so I could imagine it for myself.”

Several mothers who went back to school later in life call in and share their experiences of being role models for their children simply by their example of curiosity, perseverance, and enjoyment of learning.