aaduna in exile - Ball
The American lexicon is rampant with slogans, phrases and linguistic meanderings that use certain words more than others. Interestingly, such phrases are grounded in mundane or repetitive human actions that often manifest images in our mind that may not be pertinent to the moment that we hear the phrase. Need examples?
Play ball.
The ball is in your court.
That’s the way the ball bounces.
The whole ball of wax.
And while there are negative phrases using ‘ball’ it is not the intention to decipher the totality of ‘ball’ phrases. However, we are reminded of famous people whose surname ended in Ball.
Lucille (Lucy) Ball is probably the most famous. And while there are Philip, Carsten, Ernie, Fred, Harvey, Lawrence, John, David, and others whom you may find on anyone’s list of notable Balls, there isn’t a notable figure with the first name Stephen as far as we know. That is about to change. Now, there is another notable for the Ball "A" list. A new first name.
Stephen Ball is a writer who manifests subtlety, imaginative themes that wrap nuances and ideas around our consciousness, and then leaves an inedible mark that we may use to define other writers. All too often, the magnitude of any writer’s worth is defined primarily by literary critics or periodicals that have the marketing power to anoint who the public must read. And every so often, a writer emerges into the public mindset by word of mouth and the expectation of future work. And whether or not, aaduna pursues such a list of grass roots grown writers of substance, Stephen Ball is of substance. And we readily expect as readers become more aware of his work, he will find platforms that will broaden his reach into the collective readership.
In the winter 2021-22 “aaduna in exile” issue due out in mid-late February, Ball will grace our readership with his creative non-fiction work, "Epilogue: The Joy of Mentoring - From Thousands of Miles Away." Here is the opening teaser.
One chilly morning, I clicked send on an email
that signaled the start of one era and the end of another. My hand trembled
with unease. In a flash, I switched careers and coasts, trading my job as an
attorney at a big law firm in New York City for an entirely different role at
an insurance company in Walnut Creek, California, about 30 minutes outside of
San Francisco. New role, new industry, and a vastly new location. All at once. Given
the sea change geographically and professionally, the move brought both
excitement and angst. Excitement because I was embarking on an adventure,
moving somewhere unfamiliar to pursue a fresh career path. Angst because of all
that I was giving up.
* * *
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| Stephen Ball (photo provided) |
Stephen Ball is a Senior Vice President and Strategy Lead for external engagement within Wells Fargo’s Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion division. Mr. Ball has broad executive experience that includes public affairs, reputation management, risk mitigation, powerful advocacy, and strategic relationship-building with various stakeholders. Ball most recently reported to Wells Fargo's Vice Chairman of Public Affairs as chief of staff. Prior to that, he served as Wells Fargo's head of state and local government relations for the Northeast region, beginning in January 2018.
Ball began his career as a commercial litigation attorney at Baker
& Hostetler, L.L.P in New York. While completing his graduate-level
studies, he interned with the Clinton Foundation and the Manhattan District Attorney’s
Office.
Ball earned a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public
Policy from the University of Michigan. He received his JD from Harvard Law
School. Ball is admitted to the New York State Bar. His writings have appeared
in Harvard Magazine, Black Enterprise, and the San Francisco
Examiner.
In February, you will have opportunity to read his entire work, as
well as know more about Stephen Ball’s background in aaduna.
aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.
Looking forward to reading his work.
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