Like so many of you, I woke up to news of war over the weekend. Again. Still comfortable in my own bed, yet suddenly uncomfortable with the destruction and trauma being unleashed on the other side of the world on my behalf, whether I wanted it or not. Two news stories caught my eye in those first few hours. The Red Crescent reported that the … Continue reading The first few hours of war
It’s a hard season in Minneapolis. But Minnesotans are a certain kind of strong. As we’ve seen our friends and neighbors come under pressure, we’ve shown up for one another in big and small ways. People went to the streets in subzero weather to protest. They delivered groceries to folks afraid to go out in public. They sang songs of resistance and connection. They cooked … Continue reading I am human
The series explores Northern Ireland’s journey toward healing after the Troubles, highlighting conversations with artists, educators, and peacebuilders. Despite ongoing tensions since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, these individuals use creativity to foster dialogue and rebuild trust. Each week features interviews and reflections, offering insights into reconciliation and the human spirit. Continue reading The Troubles
On my last day at Standing Rock, one of the students asked me, “What do you think you’ll remember most about this place when you leave?” And after a minute, I said, “I think I’ll remember how warmly you all welcomed me from the first minute I walked in the door.” I was Mr. John for the week as I visited classrooms and set up … Continue reading Standing Rock
The author reflects on a week spent in Beaver Dam, WI, their hometown, discussing the concept of belonging. Reconnecting with the community, they participated in a program by AAUW and enjoyed heartfelt interactions with locals, including old friends and neighbors. Despite the loss of parents, the warmth of the community reaffirmed their sense of belonging. Continue reading My hometown
We had full hearts and a full house for our event Tuesday night as we gave a recap of our summer storytelling adventures. If you were there, you can watch it again. And if you missed it, you’re in luck. We are sharing the video below. You can find the video here Our three interns have headed back to Willamette University for their senior year … Continue reading A good summer
Kate West is one of our three summer interns from Willamette University and a Conversation Ambassador for the Conversation Project at Willamette. Kate is a rising senior majoring in Peace and Justice studies and calls Redmond, OR home. She wrote this blog based on our recent walk through the neighborhoods of North Belfast. “This past week, we walked along the peace walls in Belfast between … Continue reading Walls
This weekend I was invited to deliver the commencement address at my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. I graduated from there 35 years ago with a degree in journalism. There were two ceremonies with a total of 1,581 graduates and about 8,500 guests. It’s a charge to the class, but a message that I hope reaches even farther. So, I’m sharing … Continue reading Commencement
A Peace of My Mind brought our process to the Brain Injury Association on Nebraska and asked, “What do you want your community to know about brain injuries?” The short answer is, “A lot.” The room was filled with practitioners and advocates as well as people who had sustained and survived brain injuries themselves. And of course, sometimes those were the same people. I am … Continue reading Brain Injury
Over the weekend I attended a film screening in Michigan for a documentary project called Impossible Conversations. In some ways it was an introduction. In others, it was a reunion. The film was created in partnership by London-based filmmaker Pratap Rughani and Michigan-based filmmaker David Chung. I’d met with Pratap by Zoom recently and explored some common themes in our work. This was a chance … Continue reading Impossible conversations
