shininghours.com           back to aboutus

Jessica Steigerwald, creator of shininghours.com & Butterfly School (www.butterflyschool.net), is an advocate for children & families, with a background in law, art & history.  "I enjoy writing children's stories & introducing children to creative arts.  From a large, creative and inspiring family, I have strong roots that give me a terrific appreciation for the special joys of family celebrations, oral history and a sense of interconnectedness.  After studying at Harvard, I (mostly) enjoyed law school studies and began a fledgling practice concerned with advocacy for families and nursing home residents.  Focusing my energy on children's programs felt important.  I worked at Harvard University as the staff director/coach of HAND, a community service program led by undergraduate volunteers (the same program I served as an undergrad)."

"After having two children, I decided to spend some quality time exploring the joys & challenges of parenting.  In our kitchen, we cooked up Butterfly School & enjoyed sharing it with our friends & neighbors.  When an interested editor gave me a chance to present it on the web, I was thrilled.  Transforming our highly improvisational mode to the web was a stretch that has helped me meet amazing caregivers around the world, learn html & catch a glimpse of the possibilities the web offers.  My next challenges are finding ways to reach people who are not yet connected to the web & to contribute the most creative ways I can."  Write to me at:  jess@shininghours.com