Leaven Center offers October programs

The Leaven Center, a retreat and study center in Lyons, offers the following events:

Doing Our Own Work: A Seminar for Anti-Racist White People, a program of Allies for Change. 

October 14-17 and December 2-5
A unique context for white people who seek to deepen their commitment to confronting and challenging racism. Doing Our Own Work equips white people with the analysis, skills, and tools needed to be more effective anti-racist allies with people of color and to help bring about institutional change. 

Journey Toward an Undivided Life: An Introductory Circle of Trust® Retreat, with Valerie Brown

October 21-23 
The complex demands of living require skill and compassion.  Yet too often in the daily intensity of our work we may neglect the source of our stamina, inspiration, and commitment, our inner selves, that which aligns our deepest values with the work we do. Grounded in the principles of Parker J. Palmer's book, A Hidden Wholeness, participants examine the impact of reflective leadership on the creation of trusting, responsive relationships, emphasizing the connection between our work and inner values and integrity.    

For more information, visit leaven.org

Eleanor Josaitis Remembered

In all, more than 300 articles in publications across the country paid tribute this week to Eleanor Josaitis. The beloved metro Detroit community leader succumbed to cancer at Angela Hospice Tuesday; she was 79 years old.

With the late Rev. William Cunningham, Josaitis co-founded Focus: HOPE in 1968, in the wake of race riots that left Detroit a battered and even more racially divided city. The organization provides job training, as well as programs and food for the poor and elderly.

Josaitis was memorialized by a number of metro area columnists. Ron Dzwonkowski in today's Detroit Free Press called her "the perfect embodiment of Focus: HOPE because she never lost her focus on helping people or her hope that Detroit would see better days." Freep columnist Rochelle Riley recalled a story that demonstrated Josaitis' good humor, even in the face of outrageous sexism. Also in the Detroit daily, Stephen Henderson shared a memory yesterday of how his life was touched by "the Josaitis effect" at a very young age.

On Sunday, Mitch Albom paid tribute in a Freep column written as Josaitis rested in hospice care. He wrote about her humility and her legacy: "she proved you don't need a degree, a license or an election to help people."

At the Detroit News, Laura Berman called Josaitis "modest woman with immodest goals ... the mission was nothing less than ending racism and poverty." In an extensive obituary, Kim Kozlowski recounts how Josaitis moved her large family from Taylor to Detroit after the riots, to help rebuild the city and work toward racial harmony. Kozlowski also amassed a collection of tributes from Detroit area leaders – as did the Free Press.

Detroit News blogger Neal Rubin wrote about the only "fitting tribute" to Josaitis, and the News published a collection of photos taken throughout her career with Focus: HOPE. Editorials were published in her honor in both the News and Free Press.

In The Oakland Press, Rev. Lawrence Ventline wrote about how he was personally touched by Josaitis, whom he considered a mentor.

Eleanor Josaitis' funeral will be held Saturday at Church of the Blessed Sacrament on Woodward, with visitation Friday at Church of the Madonna in Detroit, WXYZ TV reports.

Galleria Monique visits residents in assisted living, nursing homes

Menka (Monica) Spasovska-Ilich

Although Valentine's Day comes but once a year, local art therapy organization Galleria Monique wants to feature an entire "Month of Love" by reaching out to residents in assisted living and nursing homes.

The goal is to get people involved—to help the community thrive. After visiting the first home and meeting each resident, Ilich had an enormous feeling of satisfaction.

"If my arms were long enough to hug all those people at once, I would have," Ilich said. "It was like walking on air."

So far, artist Menka (Monica) Spasovska-Ilich and editor Mekie Kukan have visited the Farmington Healthcare Center and the Detroit Baptist Manor, and both Valentine's parties were quite successful. They made many new friends, which they said was very special for them.

SJMO to host Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) welcomes the public to its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 14, in the hospital chapel. SJMO is located at 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac. 

Theme for the day is “The Power of One: You Can Make a Difference.”

Keynote speaker will be Heaster L. Wheeler, Executive Director of the Detroit Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  He will speak on “Making a Difference in Business.” He will be introduced by Dr. Eugene Rogers, President, Oakland County Branch NAACP.

An Interview with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés

 

Jan Lundy

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés

by Jan Lundy

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, author of the landmark book, Women Who Run with the Wolves, has had a profound influence on my inner life as a woman. I know many of you may know her work and feel the same way.

Earlier this summer I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. E for the purpose of sharing in the promotional launch of her new book, 30 years in the making: The Dangerous Old Woman: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype. I am pleased to share a portion of this interview with you, a powerful message to young women and the people who love them. I am confident her words will stir your heart!

JLL: You have said, "We have a birthright to live out our giftedness." What is this giftedness? Can you say more?

Dr. CPE: “Being you” is a cultural colloquialism that means, to my way of thinking, being ensouled, walking this world with one’s soul intact; conferring with what the soul sees, measures, following the soul’s instructions to be kind, loving, fierce, creative… unleashing our inborn gifts to bring all those to this needful world, to be the exemplars of these in daily life. Every person born on earth who has a soul, carries these gift.

JLL: Is the Dangerous Old Woman considered dangerous because of this giftedness, in particular?

Dr. CPE: Any woman is considered dangerous, that is, unpredictable, when she is in her right mind. Being in her right mind means she is not the slave to society’s dictates, but rather follows her soul’s advice. Thus she may or may not follow/ enact/ unfold in ways the overculture insists on. She will follow her own truth; based on her gifts of mercy, love, fierceness and creative fire.

The limitless world of Dr. Angela Celeste May

Dr. Angela Celeste May has traveled all over the world, but she is first and foremost a native Detroiter.

May grew up in Detroit's Boston-Edison neighborhood, in a spacious Georgian-style home her maternal great-grandmother claimed in 1952. From the beginning, she was surrounded by powerful women. Her mother, Mary Ella Walton, is a classical and gospel pianist, teacher and composer; her great-aunt was a talented seamstress who produced her own fashion shows; and her grandmother, Willie May Walton, served as a lay minister and leader in her community.

"I love that I was raised with strong women doing their thing," said May, whose own list of accomplishments include recording, publishing, teaching and now broadcasting. "It was God first, and you just go and do. No limits. I'd never heard of such a thing as being female meant you can't."

Her father, who passed away in January, also had a powerful influence on his children. He created both art and music, and taught himself and his children to ride a unicycle. All of the May children are musically talented. Angela's sister, Michelle, is a bandleader, musician and teacher, and her brother, Leon, is a drummer and composer. But music is only a part of the picture.

Wordless Wednesday: That Annoying Kid

fcfriends.org

Child's rare disorder fuels mom's desire to help national non-profit

Cindy Chrysler had no idea what chiari malformation was until her daughter was diagnosed with it in March of 2008.

Now she knows people all over the country who have it, including one from the small Michigan town her family calls home. Chrysler would like even more people to be made aware of this congenital condition, so she's working on a fund-raiser for the American Syringomyelia & Chiari Alliance Project (ASAP).

"I meet so many people who have this, you wonder how people don't know about it," Chrysler said.

Chiari malformation is an abnormal development in the lower part of the brain or cerebellum. Essentially, a portion of the brain extends into the spinal canal, to varying degrees. The condition affects about one in 1,000 babies born each year, but symptoms may not appear until later in life. 

Inspired to be inspired

“Inspired.” As it is the title of this column, I’ve often thought about the many meanings of this word and what personally inspires me in various areas of my life.

Inspiration is often synonymous with words like “motivation”, “stimulation”, “encouragement” and “insight”.

What inspires you?

Where do you find energy and motivation?

What helps you feel insightful?

Inspired: Silence is the enemy

Silence is the enemy

 

   Do you know that millions of women around the world look up to you? Okay, maybe not so specifically, but to us, as American women. Violence against women is a global issue – one that each of us has the opportunity to take positive action in.

  Recently this topic has been more prominent in the global news. Maybe you heard the story of Ayman Udas, who was murdered by her brothers due to their apparent disapproval of her “morally questionable” career as a singer in her home country of Pakistan. The story of how an Iraqi judge declared it lawful to slap one’s wife also made headlines and seemed to shock throngs of online readers. These stories are heart-wrenching examples of the truths women in other cultures suffer through, although also being poignant enough to draw the media’s attention and make an appearance on the Average Jane’s news sources, including email news pages and popular blog sites. 

  Did you hear the story of the latest larger scale attempt at positive press on this subject? Sadly deemed “too violent” by several protestors, a Women’s Aid anti-domestic violence advertisement in Britain featuring actress Keira Knightly also gained heat. More on this story, including a link to the actual video, is available on my blog site. 

  Ask yourself – as a woman living in the US, are you honoring your potential to help set a precedent? Regardless of how we actually view our reality as Americans, the truth remains that there is a starry-eyed ideal often held on to by women from other countries about how life must be for us here or maybe more accurately, how life may be for them if they were here.

  The women in these stories are subject to abuse and mistreatment largely by force – they don’t have the same rights afforded to them in order to protect themselves. After all, these gross ideas are often supported by the government and police with defiance costing your life. 

  So why is it still so easy for many women to turn a blind eye? These international stories create water cooler conversation, spark college theses and general distasteful inner reactions, yet when one of our girlfriends is abused by her husband or our neighbor’s son is seen screaming at his girlfriend, we deem it to be none of our business and do nothing? Another chance we have to be part of the solution that we choose to let pass us by again. 

Silence is the enemy.  I know most of you know at least one person in an abusive situation (statistically speaking one in three women are affected by abuse at some point in their lifetime, usually during their teenage years and usually without knowing what they are experiencing is wrong). Do they have to be visibly beaten, bloody and bruised to constitute being abused? Of course not – bullying, name-calling, verbal and mental assault are all abusive and never acceptable. This includes scenarios at work as well.

   We think abuse is something that happens to other people; to women in lesser developed nations or low income environments and not to us. If you are one of the many women never to have experienced such stress, you are fortunate. The truth is that abuse does happen to all of us – if it is allowed to continue anywhere, then it continues to be a threat to our health, happiness and safety as well as to those we love, regardless of where we live or may come from.

   Simple, fast ways to make a difference now:
• If you know someone in need of help, pass along a website or phone number for professional assistance like:
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-HELP
• Loveisrespect.com
• Find a blog posting on the subject and leave a comment to show your support.
• Like a blog or article? Email a copy to your friends and family. Email is quick, easy and free.
• The Michigan Women’s Forum is an amazing resource you’re already a part of – invite your friends to check it out, too.

   I always say that yes, one person can make a difference, but there is power in numbers. It’s so much stronger when we work together. I believe our potential for success is limitless – do you?

Best wishes,
Barb Marynowski

Barbara H. Marynowski is recognized as an expert in stress management, self-care and personal empowerment. Her passion is helping women live healthier, happier lives free from stress, shame, guilt or fear and she believes everyone has the right to pursue and live a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous life. Appointments and private sessions are available by contacting her directly at BarbMarynowski@aol.com and on her blog at http://www.barbaramarynowski.blogspot.com

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Introduction
Ugly is an Attitude
New Year, New List, New YOU!
Spring Cleaning
Get Focused
Stop Wishing, Start Getting
The Words You Say
The Gift You Give Yourself
Love Yourself
Your Top Qualities
Independence
Hot, Hot, Hot
Harvesting Success
103 Years Young
Start an Inner Revolution
A Time to Mourn, A Time to Yell