Ashley Thames Brown

About Me

“Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes, work never begun.” - Christina Rossetti

You'll find a few samples of my writing in the blog portion of this site. I’m proud to have applied and been rejected a number of times in the pursuit of publication. It doesn’t bother me - yet.

I currently write non-fiction and memoir essays. A few topics include …

- Reviews and advice for agers

- Art, creativity, and innovations for those living with dementia and their loved ones and caregivers

- Personal growth, aging well, home, family, and work-life

- Women's spirituality studies

Public Speaking:

- Finding Our Way to the Light: Hope for Dementia Caregivers

- You’re Talking to the Same Person: The Sweet Spot Between Marketing and Fundraising for Nonprofits

I can be reached at thamesbrown@gmail.com

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts, Art History, Texas Christian University

The Writer's Path, Southern Methodist University, Simmons School of Education & Human Development

Interior Design Post Graduate Certificate, University of Houston

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

- Chief Advancement Officer, leading advancement initiatives and non-profit marketing efforts, Juliette Fowler Communities (current)

- Regional Development Director, Higher Education, Major Gifts (TCU)

- Development Director, Content Creator, Digital Marketing Leader, Volunteer Coordinator,

Juliette Fowler Communities

- Museum Assistant/Curatorial Support: The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Rienzi Center for European Decorative Arts, Museum of Fine Arts Houston

- Tiffany and Co.: Merchandising, Fine Jewelry Sales, Customer Service

ART:

- Art Shows and Installations: Unity Church Dallas, Dallas Public Library, The Cedars Gallery, Starbucks (Wilshire Heights), Dallas Bathhouse Cultural Center (Dia De Los Muertos)

- Art Donations: Jill Allison Bryan's "Infinite Possibilities ~ A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women," Chase's Place Special Needs School (Dallas), Mockingbird Elementary (DISD), Greenland Hills UMC Missions, Dallas Resource Center (LGBTQIA+ Services & Assistance)

- Panel Participant, "Who Does She Think She Is?" screening, Pamela Tanner Boll and Nancy C. Kennedy's inspiring documentary about artists who are mothers, Deep Ellum, Dallas

LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

- Spiritual Lesson-Creator and Group Leader, "Zuzu's Petals: Women's Spirituality Group," (GHUMC, Dallas, Texas)

BLOGS:

Blogger: Earliest Ashley, Polite Rebellion, Heirloom Apparent

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Cynicism: Why Half Empty Is More Than We Think

Oh cynicism; the proverbial glass half empty. In a 2025 Gallup International poll, 41% of people globally feel things will get better, 24 % feel things will get worse, and 29 % have no expectation of change . I consider myself amongst the 41% - for the most part. And like many American women of my generation (I’m 58), I’ve often hidden anything cynical behind the more acceptable features of my nature. I’ve even felt shame when I hold negative views. While I continue to grappl

Ash

Nov 163 min read

Revering the Smallest

I saw a young girl standing on a large rock amongst a group of boulders in Central Park today. She pirouetted down the side of it’s easy slant, her pink sundress fluttered around her. She was maybe 7. She proudly popped her feet onto the ground, only to spin and scramble back up. As she again reached the crest of the stone, she extended her slender arms out and threw her head back. She shouted something, but the sound of other children playing nearby prevented me from hearing

Ash

Jul 142 min read

HEAR Today, Thrive Tomorrow

My gorgeous grandmother’s hearing changed in her eighties. It was minor at first but progressed. We could tell by her frustrations with us. “I don’t know why you all mumble.” “Can you please speak up?” “Ashley, you need to teach the children to speak clearly and use eye contact with their elders.” That last one was true. But more and more, we worried. She had always been a talented conversationalist who sparkled in social settings. She also possessed excellent cognitive healt

Ash

May 43 min read

More than Resolutions

I'm off for a few days and in between packing up Christmas and naps with my dog, I've been reading, reflecting, and of course, scrolling. I've seen some beautiful posts with insightful resolutions and meaningful intentions for 2025. I'm not surprised to see rivers of fear, worry, and exasperation. There are plenty of people eschewing resolutions all together, too. A friend said to me yesterday, "Why would I wait until January 1st to begin a life-improving goal that I should

Ash

Jan 44 min read

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CONTACT

thamesbrown@gmail.com

214-207-4259

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