"Seasons of the Heart"
Perspectives on the meaning of "love".
Friday February 14, 2019 at The Nest in Michigan City
"Seasons of the Heart"
On Valentine's Day, MyPath brings new perspectives to what "love" means in America 2020. Like the natural world we live in, love has many seasons we walk through on our path of life. Our storytellers will share experiences of love in every imaginable season; be it spring - new and fresh, summer - lush and comfortable, fall - fading and declining or winter - cold and harsh. Love is so pervasive in our lives, yet so mysterious and knowable only in our hearts, not in the reason of our minds. Please join us for a evening of story. Brought to you with love by MyPath and The Nest.
The scheduled storytellers will be followed by an Open Mic! Bring your best stories!
The Nest is the perfect refuge to settle in before all the super busy holiday activities take over our lives. Relax, have an adult beverage at our cash barand let our storytellers connect you with real life, deeply meaningful true stories. Some stories will bring a smile and touch your heart... others will provide insight and understanding of what "love" is at the end of the second decade in the 2,000's.
Cynthia Smith-Faught
Lorelei Siddall
Stacey Garcelon
Deauke Robbens
Kristy Putnam
Lisa Colleen
“Stairways" Storytelling Workshop
at
The Mishawaka Public Library
In the first layer of story we explore the foundations of our story. We are all born with our own, unique language... the language of the universe. Then as well learn the consensual language of our family, community and the world we grow in, our first language remains with us. Some call it intuition, others call that first language our "Gut feeling" or "I listen to my heart"... regardless that first language is aways with us.
What is Liminal Space? Have you ever been in a building's staircase alone? Late at night? When you enter such a place you may experience it in what is referred to as "liminal space". Other places where similar liminal space may be experienced are long hotel hallways or empty churches where you are the only person present.
Liminal space is a passageway we pass through and emerge from and it also describes the creative process when an artist begins work on a new piece of art... be it a painting, a sculpture or a poem. The artist begins, not sure of what the final output will be, yet proceeding with a vision, hope and confidence that the piece will be finished.... and shared with the world.
Roger with Miranda Morley of Green Cow PACE at the Mishawaka "Stairways" Workshop
"Free Your Story"
Workshop Participants at The Nest January 19, 2020. Many thanks to Ester Golden, Stacey Garcelon and Cynthia Smith-Faught for facilitating healing energy for us all. Please come to The Nest in Michigan City on Friday February 14 to hear "Seasons of Love" Love" stories. Details and tickets available at www.mypath.center
"Inner Voice" Storytelling Workshop participants at the Nest.
Sunday November 3, 2019
ACEs Connection is a social network that supports communities to accelerate the global ACEs science movement, to recognize the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in shaping adult behavior and health, and to promote trauma-informed and resilience-building practices and policies in all communities and institutions — from schools to prisons to hospitals and churches — to help heal and to develop resilience instead of traumatizing already traumatized people. For more info about ACEs Connection go to https://www.acesconnection.com
"New Tales of the Holiday Season"
Emerging perspectives on the meaning of "holiday"
A pop up community was created on Friday November 22, 2019 at The Nest
On the Friday before the Thanksgiving holiday, MyPath brought a new perspective to what "holiday" means in America 2019. One constant in our world is change. As change occurs we honor the past while looking forward to new ways to celebrate our lives and the lives of those we love. Another constant in our world is storytelling. This storytelling show was a blend of tradition mixed in with evolving observations reflecting the changes occurring in our world.
MyPath Bibliotherapy Storytelling Workshop
Rochester, Indiana - Saturday May 4, 2019
Many thanks to Jennifer Weinert and The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the Region II partner with the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). Our Workshop participants explored the liminal space of their past and shared many poignant memories. We had many funny moments as well as a few tears along the path to greater understanding and acceptance. When past life experiences are explored through the MyPath process it often clears up energy and attention for becoming an active agent the present. All MyPath workshop attendees are eligible and encouraged to take their stories to the stage at future MyPath productions.
Alissa Parker -Sandy Hook Mom
Co- Founder of Safe and Sound Schools
Alissa's comments about MyPath Bibliotherapy...
"The power of story telling is real and I admire your passion in your work! What a wonderful thing you are doing."
Alissa Parker
Sandy Hook Mom
Co- Founder of
Safe and Sound Schools
A note from Roger - I listened to Alissa's presentation at the "Lessons Learned Conference" in July. Later that day I had an opportunity to talk with her for a moment. Surpassing the trajectory of her life, Alissa is articulate, gracious and poised. She radiates understanding and healing energy. I immediately purchased a copy of her book, An Unseen Angel, a Memoir of Faith, Hope and Healing on Amazon. I urge you to buy and read Alissa's book. In doing so you will walk with her through the story of the Sandy Hook tragedy and finding her path to healing. Alissa's story is one of hundreds of thousand of American stories of mass trauma. MyPath Bibliotherapy is dedicated to providing a platform for ALL those stories to be heard and to illuminate the path to healing. Please review our website and social media for ways to engage and become a part of our movement.
Alissa Parker is a co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools and the mother of Emilie Parker, one of the 20 children who died tragically in the Sandy hook School Shootings on December 14, 2012. In the wake of the tragedy, Alissa was moved to engage parents in securing the safety of their children in school. She became an active member of the Newtown Public School's Safety Committee. Alissa graduated from Weber State University in her hometown of Ogden, Utah. She is co-founder of the Emilie parker Art Connection which supports art programs for kids across the country, and the author of the best-selling book An Unseen Angel, a Memoir of Faith, Hope and Healing.
Peer to peer forum - Area teens with Mandi and Harris Jaffe
Lisa Hamp endorses MyPath...
"Thank you for what you do! It is so important."
Lisa is a survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting in Norris Hall that took place on April 16, 2007. With her classmates, she built a barricade to prevent the shooter from entering their classroom. Lisa suffered from untreated PTSD for many years after the Virginia Tech incident. In 2015, she sought counseling for an eating disorder. She had suffocated her feelings that were caused by the trauma and developed an eating disorder to cope. Since 2015, she continues to heal. She has begun sharing her story with law enforcement, EMS, school counselors, social workers and mental health professionals. She believes you don't have to be shot to be injured and is passionate about helping those who have experienced trauma, as well as first responders. She has a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Virginia Tech, a Master's degree in Operation's Research from George Mason University and a Master's degree in Economics from John Hopkins University.
Roger with Lisa at the
"Lessons Learned Conference"
Community Preparedness in an Era of School Shootings - "Lessons Learned"
Facilitated by Keith Kirkpatrick
Host of "Lakeshore Focus" on Lakeshore PBS
President of the KPM Group
Opening interview - Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana's 44th Superintendent of Public Instruction.
This event was presented by "The Band" created in 2013 to help fill the perceived void of Continuing Education opportunities for professionals in Northwest Indiana.
Produced by inHealth Integrated Care. For more information about this event please visit www.IndianaHealth.Care/intouch
Roger Batton - Founder of MyPath
"Through my participation in this conference I've experienced a great sense of relief about the efforts to prevent school shootings. The number of highly qualified, dedicated individuals and organizations represented at this conference is evidence of a very diverse and fully engaged stakeholders: law enforcement, state government, education professionals... Superintendents, Principles, Teachers, Health Care, first responders, television, radio, internet media... and more.
The day was well planned and started with Dr. McCormick outlining state government priorities and action plan. Followed by first hand accounts of school shootings by Alissa Parker (Sandy Hook) and Lisa Hamp (Virginia Tech). Twin high school Juniors , Mandi and Harris Jaffe from Parkland FL participated in a peer group forum with six area high school students. The sharing of their stories gave the entire audience an opportunity to feel the impact on Moms and students experiencing mass trauma.
Many corporations and organizations collaborated to make this possible, a partial list: In Health, The Band, Blue Chip Casino, I.U. School of Social Work, and Northwest Indiana Area Health Education."
Community Preparedness in an Era of School Shootings "Lessons Learned"
July 26, 2018 Michigan City, IN
Blue Chip Casino - Stardust Event Center
Lisa Hamp_
Survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting.
Harris and Mandi Jaffe
Juniors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Parkland FL
MyPath Bibliotherapy joins ACEs Connection
Own your story. Share it with the world. Humans crave story in all its glory... the joy... the pain... the triumphs... the sorrow. Learn to own your story on your path.
