Rebecca Hagelin To Rebecca Hagelin, Delta Delta – Troy University, the American family is at risk of becoming a lost concept. “One of my greatest passions and desires is to encourage parents to save their families, and to raise their children to tower above our modern toxic pop culture,” she says.
Rebecca points out an alarming statistic: In 1950, for every 100 babies that were born in America, 12 were born to a broken family. That is, they were either born out-of-wedlock or to a family that would suffer divorce. Fast forward to today: For every 100 babies that are born in America, 60 are born to broken families. Social scientists of every political stripe agree that the family is the basic unit of civil society - and our society cannot survive if that basic building block continues to disintegrate.
Rebecca believes parents need to recommit to their families - to understand and live out the true meaning of commitment, love, loyalty, courage and sacrifice. “And we need to raise our children to be men and women of character and commitment too,” she says. “Eight years ago I began writing a weekly column that examines social issues through the eyes of a mother. I have three children, 21, 19 and 16 and understand the pressures that are on today's families.”
Rebecca has heard from thousands of parents over the years who just want practical help and encouragement. “Four years ago I wrote Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture That's Gone Stark Raving Mad to serve as a general overview of the cultural harms and to encourage parents to fight back,” she explains. “My newest book 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family provides practical "how to's" and "doable" actions that moms and dads can start taking today - right now- to improve their relationship with their sons and daughters and to help them rise above the status quo.”
As she travels around the country speaking to parent groups, civic organizations, educators and churches, it is quite evident to Rebecca that parents often feel helpless against the onslaught of insidious marketing of a negative lifestyle that is constantly promoted to their children. “The most rewarding job in the world is to raise little human beings to become adults of character and commitment,” she says. “Parenting is the most important job in the world - and we've got to learn to stand up and actually be our child's mom or dad, and stop worrying about trying to be their best friend. Our kids are looking for someone to set the boundaries, for someone to show them a firm foundation upon which they can build their lives. This is the mandate of every parent: to love our kids enough to protect, equip and raise them to be the leaders of tomorrow.”
In December of 2002, Rebecca joined The Heritage Foundation as the vice president of communications and marketing and served in that role for six years. “My responsibility was to market Heritage, our ideas, our people, and our vision for America through all forms of the media,” she explains. “I was also responsible for brand management. In January of this year I became Heritage's senior communications fellow. I now concentrate on a few projects for Heritage, and in addition to the new book, I speak at events for Heritage and others around the country.”
Rebecca’s goal upon joining Heritage was to propel the organization into the world of 21st century communications. “Heritage had a long, successful record of placing op-ed pieces in newspapers around the country, but it was essential to expand our electronic presence too,” Rebecca states. “We began concentrating on improving our internet and broadcast presence, as well as providing useful information to talk radio and other earned media. This past year, we launched our first paid media campaign and produced our first documentary.”
The theme of the documentary can be traced to Rebecca’s days as an active Kappa Delta at Troy State University when General Daniel Graham - who invented the concept of the Strategic Defense Intitiative, or missile defense - visited the campus. “He explained how the idea would work,” she says. “Now, 26 years later, I am still an advocate of the system and know that it is essential for our safety and for the safety of other nations around the world.”
Two years ago Rebecca began planning to produce a one-hour documentary entitled "33 Minutes: Protecting American in the New Missile Age." Inspired by the fact that in 33 minutes or less, a missile launched at America could hit the U.S. target it was programmed to destroy, 33 Minutes which would explain the current threats and the system that could protect the United States from them. “The Heritage Foundation caught the vision, and last year I was blessed to serve as Executive Producer for the project,” she says. “I formed a committee to choose a production company - Coldwater Media - and then we went to work developing everything from the treatment, the script and the shots, plus gathering footage, etc.”
The project was exciting, to say the least. “I had the privilege of flying to London and interviewing Lady Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain,” Rebecca recalls. She also went on location to Independence Hall in Philadelphia and interviewed Ed Meese, former Attorney General of the United States.”