When we do our interviews, or lead our programming, or share our stories, I always have three audiences in mind. Not to be self-serving, but the first audience is me. When I sit with people who have experienced things in life that are different from what I have experienced, I always come away having learned something new. No surprise there. When you start from a … Continue reading Montana public health
Martina Byrne, a community builder in Hilltown, Ireland, transformed her personal experiences of isolation into a proactive initiative to connect women. Co-founding a thriving women’s group, she fosters community through diverse activities. Motivated by her desire for connection, Byrne emphasizes peace, trust, and women’s roles in grassroots change, nurturing relationships for lasting impact. Continue reading Martina Byrne
Last week, at the Innovia Community Leadership Summit, 350 individuals united in a shared commitment to building community amidst division. They engaged in honest conversations about challenges and victories, emphasizing relationships, active listening, and curiosity. This collective effort reflects a quieter, yet powerful form of leadership focused on human connection and empathy. Continue reading Building Community
Vincenta Leyden, raised on the border of Northern and Southern Ireland, reflects on her complex identity shaped by the Troubles. Through poetry and art, she explores emotions and fosters connections among communities. Leyden urges a critical examination of inherited beliefs, recognizing the lasting impacts of conflict on everyday life and societal norms. Continue reading Vincenta Leyden
Manorhamilton, Ireland Nula McNulty is a lifelong resident of North Leitrim, Ireland, who returned home in 2003 after years working on Ireland’s east coast and two years in China as a food technologist. Raised on a mixed farm near the Northern Ireland border, she grew up during the Troubles with a father from the North and a mother from the South. Her upbringing instilled in … Continue reading Nula McNulty
In Manorhamilton, Republic of Ireland, Carmel Loughlin and Lauri McCusker share their experiences with the impact of conflict on mental health and community development. Loughlin reflects on lost family connections during the Troubles, while McCusker emphasizes the importance of collaboration beyond divisions for positive change and community building. Continue reading Carmel Loughlin and Lauri McCusker
Gerry Creamer is the youngest of five children. He grew up in a traditional, devoutly Catholic family in the Republic of Ireland, close to the border with the North.
Elaine O’Hara has spent most of her life in Manorhamilton with short stays in Cork and Belfast, just after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Continue reading Gerry Creamer and Elaine O’Hara
Over a month, time was spent at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, engaging women in recovery and restorative justice programs. Participants shared their healing stories through portraits, leading to gratitude and self-reflection. This experience empowered voices, fostering healing and hope, culminating in an upcoming exhibit titled SOBR. Continue reading SOBR
Israel Eguaogie was 17 when he left Nigeria and relocated to Germany as an asylum seeker. A decade later he moved to Dublin and soon after that, shifted north to Belfast. It was a decision that horrified his mother back in Nigeria, who had heard news reports of the sectarian violence in the country. But Israel said that he experienced the calm and the peace of Northern Ireland and recalled it was the first place since living in Germany, where someone said hello to him first. Continue reading Israel Eguaogie
Lewis Lyttle is an ex-Loyalist prisoner. He was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder during The Troubles and was released early, with the signing of The Good Friday Agreement. Now Lewis works to facilitate cross-community groups with Black Mountain Shared Space. Continue reading Lewis Lyttle and Roxy Lyttle
