‘Peace House Community Journal’ Archives
Peace House Community”“A Place to Belong
Remembering We”™re (Sort Of) All in This Together That”™s Catherine Mamer, dressed as a witch, at a Peace House Halloween party; whose poetic words Mike Hazard highlights within “Poetical Picture Story” on page 5. “I love that it is a little United Nations ..so many people”¦so much difference”¦together”¦.if Peace House Community did not exist, I would have to invent it.” Photo: MIKE HAZARD By MARTI MALTBY In one sense I hate mentioning the Coronavirus pandemic, because no one needs to be reminded of it and I would love to provide an escape from it. On the other hand, it has illustrated one of society”™s strange paradoxes that has been on the edge of my thoughts since last year. When it comes to surviving the pandemic, many people say that “We”™re all in this together”, meaning we (as individuals) need to cooperate with the measures that we (as a society) must follow to stop [...]
Peace House Community”“A Place to Belong
We”™ll Get Through It Together By MARTI MALTBY PHOTO MIKE HAZARD I recently attended an all-day seminar put on by a couple of colleagues from North Dakota. Their organization, Ministry on the Margins, has a similar mission to Peace House Community, although their activities are more diverse than ours. Among other things, they provide toys to children. Sister Kathleen Atkinson, who runs the agency, shared many stories, but one struck me because of a personal experience I have had. Sister Kathleen, like many ministry directors, wants to provide her clients with good quality items. She said that one day she was horrified to see that a seven year old boy had received a stuffed dinosaur that was missing an eye. To her, the toy was defective and shouldn”™t have been offered to the child. She didn”™t want him to feel like he was unworthy of a good toy just because his family was poor. However, when she approached him, he showed that he had [...]
Sing After Every Storm
By MIKE HAZARD PHOTO MIKE HAZARD Ellie and Jamaih posed in the sun outside the back door at Peace House. Ellie wrote a poetical reflection on life the day she got sober. It hangs on the poetry wall inside. A few lines go: “Be like the winds: Sing after every storm. Change is scary, especially to those who watch us change while their lives stay the same. Don”™t hang out with negative people, especially yourself. You don”™t need a loud voice to be heard. All you need is something worthwhile to say. Sometimes you must end an old relationship to begin a new one with yourself.” Sing after every storm, Ellie. This picture story is by Mike Hazard. It is part of a project called Peace House People. A version of the work will be on display at Franklin Library from April 13 through May 9, 2020. The project is funded by an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
