Everyday Nonviolence Podcast

Elizabeth Lamin - Assistant County Attorney, Ramsey County on Why and How our Criminal Justice System Needs to Change

In this episode, Elizabeth Lamin talks with host Ellery McCardle about the evolution of her beliefs on how to best address violent crime. Convinced that the traditional and prevailing emphasis on "accountability" has failed, she explains how she is incorporating different methods such as focused deterrence and restorative justice.

Elizabeth Lamin is an accomplished prosecutor with over fifteen years of experience, handling thousands of criminal cases and trying complex homicides, shootings, and other serious felonies.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2004, Magna Cum Laude, after which she clerked for Judge David Minge at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  Elizabeth began her career in Stearns County where she worked in a rural/urban setting handling all levels of criminal cases. More recently, she initiated a partnership in Ramsey County to bring together community members and offenders to promote community healing and reduce recidivism.  She lives in Eagan with her partner and their two teenage children.  

For more information:
https://nnscommunities.org/strategies/group-violence-intervention/

Cindy Johnson Suplick - Writer, Speaker, and Advocate for Mental Health

In this third and final episode in our series on mental health, we hear from an individual with a mental illness. Cindy Johnson Suplick speaks with podcast host, Diane Sandberg. During the conversation, Cindy talks about a variety of topics, including her personal experiences interacting with the police. After receiving her MBA, Cindy spent 30 years in marketing in the Twin Cities. She and her husband raised two daughters in Minnetonka where they still reside with their Labrador retriever Maggie. She is a doting grandmother, published writer, speaker and advocate for mental health and faith-based progressive politics. 

Cindy is active with the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Minnesota (NAMI).  More information on NAMI can be found at https://namimn.org.

 

This series has expanded on FNVW’s research/policy paper on de-escalation of interactions between people with mental illnesses and the police. In the previous two episodes, we heard from a mental health advocate; also a former police officer who is currently a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainer and therapist. Be sure to listen to all three of these interesting and informative episodes on this important topic.

 

Music generously donated by BenSound.com.

Steve Wickelgren - Clinical Director for MN Crisis Intervention Team

In our three-part series, we expand on FNVW’s research/policy paper, exploring the de-escalation of interactions between people with mental illnesses and the police. We hear three different perspectives: 1) a mental health advocate; 2) a crisis intervention trainer, therapist, and former police officer; and 3) an individual with a mental illness. During the series, we’ll learn more about mental illness, past and present challenges, and steps for addressing those challenges.

 

In this second episode, "Everyday Nonviolence” host , Ellery McCardle, talks with Steve Wickelgren. Steve is the Clinical Director for Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team (MN CIT), a nonprofit training organization that he co-founded in 2006. He has been presenting Crisis Intervention Team training since then in addition to his administrative role. He started his career in law enforcement in 1986 and retired in 2014. During his career with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) he also became a "use of force" instructor. In 2001 Steve became the coordinator of the MPD Employee Assistance Program. He earned a masters degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed therapist. Besides his role with CIT training, he has a private practice providing counseling for public safety personnel. 

 

More information is available here on MN CIT. 

 

Music generously donated by BenSound.com.

Mental Illness and the Police - Sue Abderholden, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness - Minnesota

In a three-part series, we expand on FNVW’s research/policy paper, exploring the de-escalation of interactions between people with mental illnesses and the police. We’ll hear three different perspectives: 1) a mental health advocate 2) a crisis intervention trainer, therapist, and former police officer and 3) an individual with a mental illness. During the series, we’ll learn more about mental illness, past and present challenges around police interactions with people experiencing a mental health crisis, and steps for addressing those challenges.

First, "Everyday Nonviolence” host, Diane Sandberg, talks with Sue Abderholden. Sue has devoted her career to changing laws and attitudes that affect people with disabilities and their families.  Since the fall of 2001, she has served as the Executive Director for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Additionally, Sue has held leadership positions with Arc of Minnesota, former U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone’s staff, and PACER Center.  She is a community faculty member for the U of MN School of Social Work teaching health and mental health policy. 

More information on NAMI Minnesota is available at https://namimn.org. 

Matthew Walker- Poet, Playwright, NonViolent Practitioner (Re-release)

In this re-issued and updated episode, original host, Joann Perry, speaks with Mathew Walker about his participation in the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP).  Joann learns how exposure to the principles and skills of nonviolence helped him gain greater self-awareness and empowered him with new tools for transforming conflict situations. After participating in an AVP workshop while incarcerated, Mathew subsequently became a program facilitator. Current host, Diane Sandberg catches up with Mathew to find out how the past three years have reinforced Mathew’s commitment to AVP and active nonviolence. Find out more about AVP on FNVW’s website and help spread the word about the program by sharing this podcast with others.

Music generously donated by Bensound.com

Jon Vang - Activist with Man Forward (Re-release)

Originally released in June, 2018 Jon Vang, now Jon Vang Tao, spoke with Joann Perry, the first host of the “Everyday Nonviolence” podcast. Jon and Joann talk about his work as an activist with Man Forward. He discusses masculinity, the problems facing individuals coming out of prison, and his dedication to ending gender-based violence in the Asian community. 

Born in the U.S. after his parents escaped the Vietnam War as refugees, Jon experienced the struggle between American and Hmong cultures. His troubled youth led him to be sent to prison for eight years, during which he participated in FNVW’s Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), learning more effective approaches to dealing with conflict. After prison, he struggled to rebuild his life. Despite the barriers he faced, he was able to thrive, discovering his passion for helping the community.

In a recent conversation, which concludes the podcast, we learn about the continuing work and growth of Man Forward. And on a personal note, Jon cites the birth of his daughter, which he was anticipating at the time of the first recording, as the source of much joy and delight over the past three years.

More information about Man Forward is available at:
https://www.man-forward.org.

Music generously donated by Bensound.com. 

Erika Thorne - Social and Racial Justice Warrior

Podcast team member, Ellery McCardle, speaks with Erika Thorne, an activist, writer, facilitator and cultural worker since 1974. During this interview, Erika talks about her work with Training for Social Change, a multi-racial group of individuals, training others to confront systems of injustice. Additionally, Erika describes her involvement with the Twin Cities affiliate of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), a national network of group and individuals organizing white people for racial justice. Previously, Erika was a staff member at Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW), serving for three years as Managing Director and five years as the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)-Minnesota program coordinator. A former dancer, Erika brings "joyful physicality" to her facilitation. 

Program Notes

Additional Information:
Standing Up for Racial Justice -Twin Cities: https://www.surjtc.org/about/
Training for Change: https://www.trainingforchange.org
Black Visions: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org
Voters for Racial Justice: https://voicesforracialjustice.org
Association for Black Economic Power: https://abepmpls.org
Queen Bee, staged by Wild Conspiracy: https://www.wildconspiracy.org/queen-b

Music generously donated by bensound.com

Geetenjali Mittal: Promoting Family Wellness in South Asian Communities in Minnesota

Geetanjali Mittal is an educator, storyteller, and internationally-published researcher, who for the past two years has served as a Program Developer with SEWA-AIFW (Asian Indian Family Wellness). In a conversation with Podcast team member, Diane Sandberg, Geetanjali shares personal and professional experiences and perspective related to domestic violence and heath promotion within the South Asian community. Recorded in May, which is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this episode identifies some of the unique challenges facing this population.

 

Additional information about Geetanjali and SEWA-AIFW is available at SEWA-AIFW.org. Additionally, you can locate background and resources related to Asian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month at https://asianpacificheritage.gov.

Princess Haley - Building Health, Wealth and Social Change Through Food

After the death of her teenage son in 2010, Princess Haley discovered the healing power of growing, eating, and sharing good food. She joined two other women in applying these principles to the broader community.  Their creation, Appetite for Change, focuses on food to build health, wealth and social change.  In this conversation with Everyday Nonviolence podcast team member, Diane Sandberg, Princess describes the evolution of the organization in Northeast Minneapolis and her personal journey. She also touches on how she and Appetite for Change have been impacted by and responded to recent traumas.

 

PROGRAM NOTES: 

 

Additional information about Appetite for Change can be found at appetiteforchangemn.org.

 

Gardening, Healing, Social Justice - Rick Juliusson, Executive Director, Minnesota State Horticultural Society

In this episode, Everyday Nonviolence podcast team member, Diane Sandberg, talks with the Executive Director of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS), Rick Juliusson. Rick reflects on how his varied experiences in international and U.S. non-profit organizations and as a farmer informs his work with MSHS. He shares his excitement about MSHS’s increased focus on needs such as food insecurity and diversity. 

Additional information about MSHS is available at: https://northerngardener.org.