Creativity, Resolution, Art, Illness & Community (CRAIC)

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NO SILENCE, NO SHAME: SPEAKING OUT ON VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA
Recorded February 9, 2011

What would you do if a close family member were murdered? What if you discovered that a loved one had killed? How would you react? What would your response be?

These unthinkable questions were confronted by Renny Cushing, whose father, Robert, was violently murdered in his home in 1988, and David Kaczynski, whose brother, Ted, was arrested by the FBI in 1996, accused as the Unabomber responsible for a series of bombings that caused three deaths and numerous injuries over 17 years.

As Renny and David told the New York Times in January, the parents of Jared Lee Loughner and his Tucson shooting victims, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, are confronting these difficult emotions even today.

In this webinar, Renny and David share how they have used their experiences to help people cope with the repercussions of violence and trauma in their families.

 

SPECIAL GUESTS

Renny Cushing
His father’s murder in 1988 shaped Renny Cushing’s work as an advocate for crime victims and death penalty opponent. Founder and Executive Director of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights, Cushing has been a pioneer in the effort to bridge death penalty abolition groups and the victims’ rights movement. He travels throughout the world and the United States speaking on behalf of those constituencies.

A lifelong social justice activist, Cushing is also a former, three-term member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and serves on the board of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and the steering committee of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

David Kaczynski
Through his life and his work, David Kaczynski has sought solutions to human problems through understanding and compassion as opposed to violence and coercion. His story touches on the things we must learn and the balances we must achieve to develop meaning out of trauma and suffering, and to keep our sense of humanity alive through adversity and crisis.

In late 2010, David published a book of his poetry, A Dream Named You, started in the months after his brother, Ted, was captured by the FBI, in an effort to understand the turmoil he was facing.

NOVEMBER 3, 2010 MEETING VIDEO

 

GUEST ARTIST

David Kaczynski
Through his life and his work, David has sought solutions to human problems through understanding and compassion as opposed to violence and coercion. His story touches on the things we must learn and the balances we must achieve to develop meaning out of trauma and suffering, and to keep our sense of humanity alive through adversity and crisis.

David has recently published a book of his poetry, A Dream Named You, started in the months after his brother, Ted, was captured by the FBI, in an effort to understand the turmoil he was facing. Visit http://davidkaczynski.com for more information about David, his work, and his new book.

AUGUST 25, 2010 MEETING VIDEO

GUEST ARTISTS

Scott Petito
Scott is a Grammy-nominated composer, producer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. His NRS Recording Studio in Catskill, NY has been a popular destination for acoustic and jazz artists for many years; James Taylor, Rory Block, The Band, Dave Brubeck, Jack DeJohnette, Mercury Rev, and Keith Richards are a few of the many artists with whom Scott has recorded and/or performed with. Visit http://www.myspace.com/scottpetito to hear “When the Night Spills,” featured in the Webinar. Also, visit http://www.leslieandscott.com/ and click on “Recordings and Links” to hear Scott’s other music with partner Leslie Ritter.
   
Beth Reineke
Beth has recorded and/or performed with numerous artists including Rick Danko, Tom Pacheco, Pete Seeger, Michael Jerling, Scott Ainslie, Michael Franks, Helen Avakian, Aine Minogue, and Anne Hills. She has worked in numerous roles, including recording assistant and session singer, at NRS Recording Studio since 1997. Beth has also worked as a music publicist, radio promoter, and road manager for numerous performers. Visit https://soundcloud.com/beth-chapin-reineke to hear Beth’s music, including the song featured in the webinar, “My Father’s Violin.”

 

JUNE 16, 2010 MEETING VIDEO

 

ARTISTS’ IMAGES