It was the summer of 1976. I was nine years old and we were on the first — of what would become many — family road trips. A pop-up camper hitched to the back of our Ford LTD2, we headed west and north to the Canadian Rockies.

I remember walking into the grand Chateau at Lake Louise to fill up our water bottles before a hike, and a Canadian musician was playing American patriotic songs on a polished grand piano in the lobby to celebrate the bicentennial of my country.

I remember thinking, “I don’t even know when Canada’s birthday is, let alone what songs they’d sing for it.”

Maybe it’s the hazy view of nostalgia, or the difficult realities of the season we are in, but there was a warm sense of celebration — of one another — that lit a spark of exploration in me that still burns today.

There’s a line I often share when talking about A Peace of My Mind and my background as a travel photographer. “I realized it wasn’t just my job to take photos. It was my job to find beauty in unexpected places.”

That wanderlust…that curiosity…that belief that there is beauty and wisdom all around us…has led me places I never expected or imagined. And the most remarkable part? I’ve been met with kindness and generosity everywhere I’ve gone.

I’ve been to 49 of our states. I’ve met amazing people. And I’m in love with this country that is celebrating its 250th birthday today. Not the sort of “stars in your eyes and you could do no wrong” sort of love, but the kind of “brother, we’ve been through some shit together, but I’m here for you, and always will be” kind of love. The kind of love that can see you with all your flaws and scars and still say, “OK. What’s next? How could we do better?”

As I’ve interviewed people across the country, asking them “What does peace mean to you?” there are some quotes that have stood out, started serving as beacons for our better selves, and guided this project. Today, I’m thinking about how these quotes relate to our national milestone.

“When you’re uncomfortable, that’s when the learning starts.” – Joe McGill

“Can we take our history and find ways to bless the good and redeem the bad?” – Duncan Gray

“One of our values is bravery. And people tend to think bravery is not being afraid. On the contrary, bravery is being afraid, but doing the right thing even though you’re afraid.” – Wenipashtaabe

“I want to love those who haven’t shown me love. I want to be kind to those who may not deserve my kindness.” – Hashim Garrett

Last year I spent time gathering stories in Northern Ireland about their history of sectarian violence and their long journey toward healing. Ordinary people had had enough of the violence and tension in their land. They decided it was within their grasp to make something different, even if they were uncertain of the path forward. One theme I heard repeatedly is captured in this quote from Alastair Kilgore, who has been active in community reconciliation efforts there for decades. “We are ordinary people attempting to move forward with other ordinary people and seeing what happens.”

It’s the people. It’s always the people. And in the midst of extraordinary challenges, there are always people who will find creative solutions to move forward together.

In this season that feels especially divided, A Peace of My Mind is leaning into our mission of using storytelling and art to rediscover what connects us and we are excited to be in the early days of a big new project that centers around this American experiment and what it looks like at home in Minnesota.

The McKnight Foundation and A Peace of My Mind are partnering on a two-year project to help people across Minnesota see each other reflected through community-created photography exhibits and be in conversation with each other in a series of civic dialogues. Through a statewide touring exhibit and hosted conversations, Minnesotans will share stories, listen across differences, reflect on what belonging looks like in their lives, while also contributing to a visual record of Minnesota’s communities and the future we’re building together.

We’ll look at what we’ve done well and where we have work to do. It will be an open and honest assessment that leaves room for stories of struggle and flaws, while holding space for hope, healing, and human connection. 

We’ll be asking lots of questions and doing lots of listening. When have you found unexpected courage? When has community shown up for you? What do you love about this place? What has been your greatest challenge? When have you felt a sense of belonging? We’re not showing up to decide who’s wrong or right. We’re showing up to connect and imagine a future together.

Happy 250th America. We have a lot to celebrate. We have a difficult history to reckon with. We have healing to do and hope to spread and nobody can do it quite like we can. I believe in us and look forward to what lies ahead.