We went a little long this week, but only because so many who joined us had so much to say...

What a welcome deviation! Thanks to Sarah Drake and Kathy Vance, also Ruth Alliband and as always my parents who loyally attend these sessions. Also, to Jennifer Larson who made it right at the end—we hope you got the recording and enjoyed the discussions and presentation.

This week was extra special because Kathy, who had visited for a session before this, returned with a thought on her mind. She even emailed just in advance with her thoughts about the question “why do we make our homes in threatened environments?” — she says,

“That‘s where the beauty is…on the edge of a cliff, in the middle of the trees…

• Sometimes it’s cheap….the slums end up there…poor areas of big cities are in flood plains
• Fertile and verdant….have to live there because it’s better for….my livestock, my garden, my lungs…
• It probably won’t happen to me – denial about the threats
• Fear of change – I am there because my parents were there….why would I move?

And she goes on to complete the thought with, “Isn’t it interesting that nomadic people understood the threats and moved from place to place to avoid certain locations during the times of greatest threat at THAT location?  Clever weren’t they?!” Indeed.

And in our conversation, that’s exactly where we landed. Nearly every place we can live is threatened, but how can we adapt through the way we live in that place or respond to danger to make it less threatening. Like the nomads being nomadic. Maybe we are too settled to return to that lifestyle, but perhaps there are other ways. Food for thought for another conversation.

Join us May 19th at Noon

No. 5: A River Connected:

stories about river, race, home and climate

The river is magical for Freda Hall in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, whereas it shapes an industry for Mitch Jurisich along the Gulf Coast in Empire, Louisiana. These two stories then lead us into the heart of the Delta, where the river shapes culture, cuisine, and social history. Rebecca Hutchison in Memphis and Jeremiah Smith in Rosedale, Mississippi will shed some light on reshaping home and invigorating the next generation of Black leaders.

Zoom in May 19th, 12pm CDT - FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Help us reach our funding goal to support the exciting collaboration with creative firm Studio Meta to design the interactive story map that will bring the stories of Relay of Voices into everyone's lives. Tom and I have personally put $20,000 forward as matching funds. Every dollar you donate will be doubled up to the $20,000 match!