The Phoenix Spirit

When local artist Willard Malebear looks back on the trials of his early life of addiction and crime, and his current triumphs in recovery, which include recently garnering a prestigious Bush fellowship, he recalls a simple, yet clarifying, insight.    “I believe what happened was I procrastinated being who I really am.” This moment of […]

I never considered myself to be a poet. A writer, yes, but poetry, and creative writing in general, was not a medium that I was comfortable with. It meant sharing feelings with the world that I was just not ready to do. However, one cold, miserable December day changed all that. In the process of […]

What often becomes the last priority when you are in the middle of addiction and recovery? Food. So much else is front and center that eating well slips to the bottom of the list. As dietitians and licensed nutritionists, we have worked with many people in recovery, and we have seen how powerful real food […]

For many people leaving jail, prison, or a detention center, the transition back into the community can be one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Access to mental health care, substance use treatment, medication, housing support, and other services can make the difference between stability and crisis. Minnesota is taking steps to strengthen […]

The most powerful stories may be the ones we tell ourselves. But beware—they’re usually fiction. Brené Brown  I recently read Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn. It is a powerful real-life mystery of a seemingly normal American family. The hidden history came to light when a querying filmmaker contacted the author seeking information about her grandparents...