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Dec 29, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

I'm craving for more writings by Courtney Martin and Sarah Wheeler! I wrote to Sarah in connection with her wonderful Momspreading's latest theme of "How much hope do we need?" that my focus will continue to be on learning more about peace studies. My "mentor" and longtime correspondent in this regard is Prof. James Tully (Pol.Philosophy, UVIC). He is editing or publishing three (!) books in 2022, including a collection of his works. His particular topic is "integral nonviolence", and his most original research concerns the Original (Indigenous) peoples of North America. It's exciting that Canada's leading philosopher has devoted most of his professional career to these subjects and I'm eager to learn more from his new publications.

Okay, if I'm to keep my responses manageable to your 10 questions, I'll try hard to be mercifully short. My most nourishing practice in 2021 was finishing the draft of my next book, "Indian Ideas of Freedom"(HarperCollins, 2022), with an Afterword by Tully.

Sharron and I got rid of "stuff", selecting from our locker books that are definitely unwanted.

I'll savor correspondence with my granddaughters, now in college and majoring in Gender Studies, African history, International Relations and Ethics, respectively. One granddaughter will be president of the Queer Club at her college and examine bell hooks' books, a treasure now to reflect on after her recent death and lasting legacy.

An overhyped experience was reading most of the media discussion about American politics, a chiefly banal and uninspired commentary.

Writer: Thich Nhat Hanh, "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet (2021); filmmaker, Spike Lee, "Da 5 Bloods"; musician: Paul McCartney, "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present".

Now in our 80's, Sharron and I get fatigued too easily, especially with long trips, so if we return to India to celebrate our meeting there 61 years ago, then we need to be in better shape, especially taking treks in the nearby forest that Courtney and her family know from walking with us.

I felt most heard in the high school ethics class where I've volunteered teaching for 10 years. I learned to have better boundaries with colleagues in India through zoom lectures at the Univ. of Delhi.

Because I have a dread of contracting COVID/ variants, especially at my age, I learned that I have more limited capacity for uncertainty than expected. I AM SCARED!

I'm most grateful for daily conversations with Sharron. After 60 years together, my gratitude comes from the fact that such regular exchanges are "completely ordinary", yet never to be taken for granted. Dennis Dalton (DD)

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Dec 29, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

Love these questions.....have printed them out and will spend some time with them over the coming days, thank you (and Happy New Year to you)

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Dec 30, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

6, 8, 9, (You 10): I came back to the Same Answer. YOU. There were moments where other nature forces moved the caterpillar into a butterfly as I was this year. But You were the big bang. I'm simply a better parent, and even better person because of your writing. I got to the top of the mountain, and hated the view. I found a better lower? mountain, but still has a lot of 12's, so we are ok.

The best part is I found the (my) original comment from March. The old me. 9 months later. I'm flying better than I ever have. You touched my soul, my wife's soul, and you have made us better parents. I'm getting better at addressing the societal issues you raise each day. It is not much, but it's our pebble to the lake of the world :). If I can ask for one constant in 2022, please keep on trucking. I might come back to the other answers, but I wanted to say this first.

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Dec 29, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

I'm craving to learn if Oakland et al. can become the "social prescribing (SP)" leader in the United States. SP. is a non-medical referral option for GPs, other medical and some non-medical professionals, and self-referral to the sources of support. Patients are medically insured to attend, e.g., local social groups/enterprises, community businesses, and local volunteer groups to improve their health and wellbeing. The U.K. is a leader in SP, and at least eight other countries are following their lead. SP falls under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) #3 -- Health and Wellbeing. There are 17 SDGs; many can be targeted while implementing #3, and Oakland is ideally suited for many. Mr. Gareth Presch, the founder of the World Health Innovation Summit, believes in Oakland (and promises $500 million support is possible). He is also the Expert Lead on SDG3 for the UNGSII Foundation, Co-President, One Health Romania, Vice-Chair GWI SDG Initiative, Strategic Partnerships SolaVieve, and a Member of the Vatican COVID19 Commission. California's first surgeon general, Dr. Nadene Burke Harris has prevention and treatment of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma as a cornerstone of her agenda. Likewise, Mayor Libby Schaaf has shown leadership in committing Oakland to many SDGs. Vice President Kamala Harris, being an Oakland native, may adopt the vision as a personal legacy project. I have put together a 31-page BRIEF. In partnership, I am moving forward with a specific SP scheme with the working name: Maternal Dance Initiative. I've admired your work for years and was thrilled to see (and read) Learning in Public. I was born in Oakland (1952); my brother, who has schizophrenia and doing remarkably well, lives alone near Lake Merritt. It would be energizing to have you on board with this genuine need and possibility. Let me know if you're interested—all the best to you and yours.

Respectfully,

Sue Doherty

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