We spent a week in residence with the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse at Grand Valley State University and their community partner Seeds of Promise in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was election week and a good time to ask the question, “What is one hope you have for our country during these divided times?” If I were to have answered the question, it would have … Continue reading Civil Discourse
“So I carry all these things for my family. And now I’m the top of my family. I have my mother on her side, but on my father’s side, that’s it. My grandpa’s gone, my father’s gone. There’s nobody else. So I gotta carry it all for my sons. Gotta be strong, you know.” Continue reading Harvey Goodsky, Jr.
It’s Give to the Max Day and we hope you will consider a gift to A Peace of My Mind to help us grow. Our programming is self-sustaining. Exhibit leasing fees and speaking fees keep us engaged with communities, leading workshops and installing art, but it is our donor base that allows us to gather new stories and expand our work. A small but mighty … Continue reading Give MN
Sandy Gokee is Anishinaabe—Bear Clan—and lives in Ashland, Wisconsin. For the interview, we sat outside at a park overlooking Lake Superior as a storm skirted around us, so you might hear a little wind and maybe even thunder in the recording. Sandy introduces herself in her native language, Ojibwemowin. Her Ojibwe name, Wenipashtaabe, means “She Carries a Light Load. She shares her concerns about the … Continue reading Wenipashtaabe – Sandy Gokee
I’ve been really interested in this question of community lately. Especially as we come out of the pandemic, where our experience of community was so drastically changed. Especially as we go into mid-term elections where our sense of a common vision is challenging. Especially as we have spent these last two years on the road, constantly reimagining what it means to belong in a place. … Continue reading Building community
Afton Thomas is the Associate Director for Programs at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. Afton talks about Oxford as the progressive south, and the importance of continuing to share stories of the past so we can live better today and in the future. At the time of this interview, Afton’s involvement and voice in the community … Continue reading Afton Thomas
We spent a week this fall at WVU – Potomac State College and asked, “What gives you hope?” I’m reminded of a recent interview I did with Shane Claiborne where he said, “If you want to be courageous, surround yourself with courageous people.” You could say the same for kindness. For generosity. Certainly, for hope. It’s all contagious. It rubs off. Just as much as … Continue reading Hope
When we sold our house and went nomadic in the fall of 2020, we agreed, “We’ll give it a year and see how it feels.” But after the first few months, we realized a year was going to go by quickly, so we renegotiated and agreed again…”We’ll know when it’s time to be done.” And now we know. As luck would have it, we both … Continue reading Roots
Mary Dougherty lives in Bayfield, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior. As she says, just about as far north as you can go in the state without getting wet. She is the author of “Life in a Northern Town: Cooking, Eating, and Other Adventures along Lake Superior.” We talked about preserving the watershed of the world’s largest fresh water lake and how we need … Continue reading Mary Dougherty
A Peace of My Mind visited West Virginia University in Morgantown in September, during their inaugural Week of Purpose, an initiative “designed to deliver inspiring speakers, showcase University resources, offer diverse perspectives and introduce student success tools.” We asked students, faculty and staff to answer the question, “When have you made an impact?” Here’s what people said: Continue reading Impact
