Spirit in Action

The Peace Learning Center (PLC) of Milwaukee started out in 2002 teaching the 4th graders of one school vital skills of non-violent conflict resolution. Based on a tremendously successful, city-wide project in Indianapolis, Milwaukee's PLC has grown rapidly, now teaching peace skills to 16 schools, with more projects on the way.

Mike McCabe works with Wisconsin Democracy Campaign to ensure that people are better represented than money. They track campaign contributions to all statewide offices, by amount and source, and help to insure that the law protects our democracy from monied interests.

A visit with Jane Tafel, Executive Director of the USA branch of Hagar International, a Swiss-based Christian development organization founded in 1994 to help Cambodia's abused women & children, including their empowerment through the Social Enterprise Model.

We welcome back Philip Gulley, author of 14 books, to discuss his Front Porch, Harmony, and other series. Even while writing with a tongue-in-cheek style reminiscent of Garrison Keillor, Phil Gulley tackles deep spiritual issues and real frustrations in a way that can help lighten and enlighten folks across the spectrum.

Sam Thayer Price is perhaps the Midwest's preeminent expert on wild foods and foraging. With a wide-ranging intellect and a spirit-deep passion, Sam preaches a gospel of connection to the Earth and to the life around us. His new book, The Forager's Harvest is available from Sam's web site, foragersharvest.com .

Savannah Rhae was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2007, a disease that is fatal to 75% of people in the first 12 months. Savannah has done some traditional medicine, but she's also radically changed her diet and opened herself bountifully to community and to the Holy Spirit in facing this challenge.

Loren Cobb has an exciting and unusual job. As Aetheling International Consultants he facilitates NationLab, a simulation game helping countries of this hemisphere experience and plan for social, economic and political developments. Loren, a Quaker pacifist and mathematical sociologist, works alongside with the military to strengthen our neighbors, and keep the peace. But that is only one of the r...

Bobbi Jo Toy is the primary staff person and a co-founder of Porter Place Ministries. Bobbi Jo lives out a special calling to empower women and, through them, to help all members of the community. Bobbi Jo Toy has a special ability to turn concerns over to God, and to draw unexpected support and gifts from the wider community, even without asking. Bobbi Jo is a life coach, a consultant, a mother,...

Jim Scott: is, perhaps, best known for the many years he was part of the Paul Winter Consort. He tours widely as a solo act and his music frequently excites the listener, delicately, to care for the Earth and strive for Peace. He's a pedigree Unitarian-Universalist.

Nichola Torbett is National Organizer for the Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP). She conveyed powerfully the vision of NSP as she spoke in Eau Claire on October 19, 2006, helping crystalize the formation of a local chapter, here in the Chippewa Valley.

Mary Rothschild is a founder and staff for Healthy Media Choices and she produces a weekly interview program called How Are The Children? for Brattleboro Community Radio WVEW 107.7 lp FM and she clerks the Task Force on Youth for New York Yearly Meeting.

Harold Koenig is vitally interested in studying the relationship be religious faith/practice and healing, both mentally and physical and has led more than 25 studies documenting an astonishing correlation between religious devotion and health. He is the founder of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University Medical Center.

Bonnie Tinker has been an equality activist most of her life, with a special calling to work for the rights of gay and lesbian families. She has spearheaded many initiatives including  Love Makes A Family , an organization which supports non-traditional parents and children and seeks to protect their rights, gay or straight. The daughter of a Methodist preacher turned Quaker, Bonnie has Spiri...

Todd Dennis served in the US Navy on an nuclear submarine from 1997-2003, experiencing a major shift in his world view during that time. Though he was in the military, he found himself wanting to join anti-war protesters when the US attacked Iraq in 2003, and he joined  Veterans for Peace  once back in the Chippewa Valley.

Stan served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 10 years, championing sustainable living, farming, and more, and was a keynote speaker at the 2007 MREA Energy Fair. His passion is motivating and connection citizens with our "common wealth", the ways that we can work together for the good of all. I captured his talk at the Energy Fair and visited with him 1-on-1 afterwards.

Voices for Peace 2008 took place on 9/14/8 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This 3rd and last segment includes the speech by Raed Jarrar, a representative of the Speak for Peace tour, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).

Voices for Peace 2008 took place on 9/14/2008 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This 2nd segment includes a talk by Henry Norr, an activist alongside Palestinians, speaking as part of Wheels of Justice

A rich event took place on 9/14/2008 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This first segment includes the opening "Circle of Prayer", a presentation by Steve Wagener of Military Families Speak Out and a talk by Paul Melling of Wheels of Justice.

Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzolas, his running mate for President of the USA, spoke at UW-Eau Claire on September 5, 2008. His campaign is less about him than it is about finding an alternative to the corporate power that has so much control over our national life. Nader mixes dire warnings with inspirational advocacy, urging citizen involvement for a better future.

Tom Chisholm served in the military on and off over 45 years, as a medic and a doctor. For most of that time he found himself opposed to all of the wars and military invasions the USA was part of. He's been a long-time member of  Veterans for Peace  and is a member of the Catholic peace group,  Pax Christi , as well. Tom has also valued his service on a reservation in South Dakota,...

Kathy is currently co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Noviolence, is active with the Catholic Worker movement and since becoming a pacifist has refused payment of all federal income tax for 25 years. She went to prison for one year for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites and has a Masters in Religious Education from Chicago Theological Seminary.

Ann Recine is working for the world's healing in many ways - she is a Nurse Practitioner with a Holistic Therapy LLC (715-379-5331, 515 S Barstow, Eau Claire), specializing in forgiveness and mindfulness meditation. She is a Third Order Franciscan, and she is also an organizer in the Voices for Peace Institute .

Recipients of the 2008 McGovern-Tracy Scholarships "exemplify the values of community service and leadership", and we visit with 5 of the med students recognized this year: Callie O'Neil, Michelle Buelow, Betsy Doherty, Joseph Hansen and Kevin Thao - great examples of the promise of the the upcoming generation of doctors.  

Holly Near has put in more than 4 decades advocating and training for peace and justice through her music. With more than 27 recordings, she has spoken out on a diverse rainbow of issues and provided inspiration and fuel for millions of workers for improving our world.

Aaron Ellringer's journey to living consciously, responsibly and healthily on this planet has included a number of years working with Sunyata Food Co-op before its closing, and as a major force in the creation of  Just Local Food , a worker's collective bringing local and healthy food to Eau Claire.