Estimated: 3 minutes to read

A Brave and Startling Truth

The poem, “A Brave and Startling Truth,” by Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928–May 28, 2014), flew to space on the Orion spacecraft and Angelou dedicated it to “the hope for peace, which lies, sometimes hidden, in every heart.” Published in a commemorative booklet in 1995 and later included in “Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry”. Read more “A Brave and Startling Truth”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

And just like that, everything’s changed.

Last Tuesday, I emailed attendees who were signed up for my workshop at the end of the month, letting them know we intended to hold it. Twelve hours later, we cancelled it. We’re in a strange new reality. For most of us, it’s like nothing we’ve experienced in our lifetime. For others, this is not […] Read more “And just like that, everything’s changed.”

Estimated: 6 minutes to read

Subject COVID-19: A Message from Natalie

We thank our colleague, Natalie A. Hock, LCSW, for her thoughtful synthesis of the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for her clients. We thought it was worth sharing more broadly and with her permission are doing so, here. Hi [CLIENT NAME]: I know that the level of worry and fear is high right now […] Read more “Subject COVID-19: A Message from Natalie”

Estimated: 9 minutes to read

Elemental Human Experiences — Getting in Touch

Feeling divorced from the world or alienated from neighbors who are all around us are common complaints. It’s nothing new. People have lamented the rush of modern life at least since the Industrial Revolution pulled them to factory work. When reliable electric lighting became pervasive we began losing our connection to the natural rhythms of […] Read more “Elemental Human Experiences — Getting in Touch”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

Why Do Sex Workers Need Our Support?

by Cindy Trawinski, Psy.D. and Cassandra Damm, LCSW In a previous article, we introduced the topic of sex work, considered its history and politics, and explored some identifying attributes of the diverse population of individuals sometimes referred to as sex workers. In this article, we would like to offer a few guidelines about the many […] Read more “Why Do Sex Workers Need Our Support?”

Estimated: 1 minute to read

Take Heart, Heroes

We vote with every moment, With every choice. With our attitudes we elect our reality and the world we yearn to share. We long for heroes to hold our hope and express our power, Our rage, our pain, our kindness, To make our struggle righteous, To champion our smallness. Yet, We are never larger than […] Read more “Take Heart, Heroes”

Estimated: 4 minutes to read

Sex Work & Sex Workers 101

by Cindy Trawinski, Psy.D. & Cassandra Damm, LCSW It has been a pleasure and very enriching to be working with the folks at SWOP Chicago, the local Sex Worker Outreach Project, to develop a support group for sex workers. Cassandra Damm is a social worker who volunteers with SWOP Chicago and co-authored this blog post which […] Read more “Sex Work & Sex Workers 101”

Estimated: 2 minutes to read

Pull the Next One Up

by Marc Kelly Smith When you get to the top of the mountain Pull the next one up. Then there’ll be two of you Roped together at the waist Tired and proud, knowing the mountain, Knowing the human force it took To bring both of you there. And when the second one has finished Taking […] Read more “Pull the Next One Up”

Estimated: 2 minutes to read

The Pain is Our Pain

  The pain is our pain. It is the wound in the world and we are of the world. I know that all moments, across the whole of humanity, are occasions of suffering and joy, beyond my scope. I suppose that when a blow lands so close to heart and home, the perimeter I hold […] Read more “The Pain is Our Pain”

Estimated: 2 minutes to read

In the Shadow of Disney World

ORLANDO SHOOTING JUNE 11, 2016 When I think Orlando, I think of sun filled days,  blue skies, parents and grandparents offering up days of fun and excitement, showering their children with the time of their lives at Disney World. But from  yesterday on, I will think of Orlando in a different way.  I will think […] Read more “In the Shadow of Disney World”