Ilina Ewen

A writer reflects on a holiday tradition with humble beginnings that’s grown and flourished — and in some ways, remained the same.
by Ilina Ewen
In 1996, I was recently divorced and staying put for Christmas — no in-laws to visit, no family in town. And, truth be told, I felt like a failure and was too ashamed to go home for the holidays. I found myself alone in a one-bedroom apartment with outdated carpeting, a lousy view of a parking lot and a tired kitchen.
I’d married young and never live...

Featuring local people in the community who inspire others

My name is my identity. It’s always been uniquely mine, and oddly enough, I’ve never been ashamed of it. Mind you, I was ashamed of an awful lot, but I always carried my name with pride. I was always surprised when people didn’t like their given names. I fancy mine. Mostly, I appreciate that my parents never anglicized our names. They honor our heritage and the richness of our culture that we left behind.
It’s musical to hear someone pronounce my name correctly.
Someone recently suggested I c...

Dear Deal,
In this season of new beginnings, just let me take the pictures. You squirm with visible impatience while irritation brims over, but understand that as you, forever my baby boy, close doors behind you, I am left in the wake of a new normal. And it’s exactly the nature of things, so I do not begrudge you the milestones that await you. The excitement and anticipation flood me too, and I glow with pride in seeing the young man of character, wit, and charm you have grown into. I want t...

In episode 8 of The Business Playbook, Samet’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Ilina Ewen discusses what’s working well for her organization in its effort to attract women to the construction industry. Listen in for best practices, including examples of community outreach and school system engagement–both tools that are powering Samet to lead the construction industry in the diversity sphere.

Women crushing stereotypes in the construction industry

This Raleigh-based contractor turned her DIY spirit into a brand and career as a content creator and builder.
At just 8 years old in her home in Virginia, Brittany Bailey helped her dad rewire a socket — something new for both of them. “My dad wasn’t discouraged because he didn’t know how to do it, he just took an electrical class,” she says. “That mentality, that I can learn anything, stuck with me.” Today, Bailey is a Raleigh-based general contractor and DIY influencer who reaches about 500...

NC State professor Dr. Brian Jackson’s soil research comes to fruition each holiday season in the most vibrant way.
By Ilina Ewen | photography by S.P. Murray
Around the holidays, you can find poinsettias just about anywhere, from grocery stores to big box outlets to nurseries and florists. But in Raleigh, they flourish in the greenhouses at North Carolina State University. And while most folks enjoy poinsettias for their lovely holiday colors, horticulture professor Dr. Brian Jackson grows m...

A classically trained musician, this Raleigh DJ infuses dance parties with global influences.
On the surface, there’s a disconnect between Ranganathan Rajaram’s history and his current trajectory. Classically trained as a violinist, he’s better known around here as DJ Rang — a man who gets the party started at weddings and corporate events, spinning everything from pop to Bhangra to reggaeton.
But to Rang, there’s no schism. “If you have musical theory background and experience playing in orc...

About the speaker
Ilina is a writer, advocate, and born rabble-rouser. She served as Chief of Staff to the First Lady of North Carolina for sure over two years. Before that, she had her own brand strategy consulting business for 15 years. Now she finds herself working in the construction industry, serving as director of corporate social responsibility at Samet. Her new role puts her at the perfect intersection of business, advocacy, branding, and social justice. Ilina is known as an “accident...

Fresh air is fuel. I took a walk around the park in my neighborhood the other day to feel the invigorating breeze of early autumn and to clear my head. My son has been away at school 800 miles away for about two months now. Parents’ weekend came and went. We already had plans to visit later in November to go to a Packers football game, so it certainly wasn’t feasible or realistic to go twice in a matter of a few weeks. It sure feels like he has been gone much longer than eight weeks. I miss h...

I admittedly didn’t think of exhibiting compassion as a milestone during the teen years, but when I saw it in my son, it was a staggering revelation. It was during recent events around our national racial reckoning that I saw true compassion unveiled in my teenage son. We had gone to a protest together as a family, as we have been doing around various issues since the boys were in strollers. The tenor of this was different as America wrestled with its history, its future, and its division.
We...