There are few public figures for whom I have as much respect as I have for Kimber Lanning, the Phoenix entrepreneur, musician, activist and arts impresario, founder of Stinkweeds and Modified. Her generosity and community spirit are the stuff of local legend.

Today a man came into Stinkweeds and asked her, “Are you Kimber?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, I just want to thank you. I was in prison for seven years and you are the only one in this whole damn town who took the time to wr...