Monthly Archives: May 2015

Storytelling Intersects the Personal and Political

Telling our own stories and listening to the stories of others bridges the gaps that are between us. Image from Pixabay.
Telling our own stories and listening to the stories of others bridges the gaps that are between us. Image from Pixabay.
Is sharing a story a political act? Political science student Paige McAdam, the newest member of the Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness team, thinks so. Read her insightful guest post to find out why.

Mad Men, ACEs and Child Homelessness – Escaping the Past Is Not So Easy

Don Draper giving his most famous new business pitch, just before revealing a shocking secret from his past about a Hershey bar. Photo from AMC.
Don Draper giving his most famous new business pitch, just before revealing a shocking secret from his past about a Hershey bar. Photo from AMC.
"You can’t write about Don Draper without addressing his terrible childhood, which crops up throughout the series." In the week leading up to Mad Men's finale, Catherine Hinrichsen and Perry Firth examine the traumatic events that shaped Don through the lens of recent psychological research. Catherine also has a little bit of fun speculating on how the series will end.

“There Was Always a Helping Hand”: Reflecting on Success Stories Heard at The Moth’s Community Showcase

The Moth helped 18 Seattle-area storytellers craft narratives about how family homelessness affected their lives. Nine people told their stories to a live audience on April 28. Image credit: Catherine Hinrichsen of the Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness.
The Moth helped 18 Seattle-area storytellers craft narratives about how family homelessness affected their lives. Nine people told their stories to a live audience on April 28. Image credit: Catherine Hinrichsen of the Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness.
Last week, nine storytellers bravely stood before a live audience and shared how homelessness has affected their lives. Firesteel's new volunteer advocacy assistant, Jenn Martinis, contemplates a theme that emerged from the evening: The storytellers were all amazing people who eventually found their home, but having access to a support system was critical to their success.