Catalyst Trip 2004

I stood by truth: to be a light to the land

I tried to be common like bread

so when the struggle came

she wouldn't find me missing.

-- Pablo Neruda

The Catalyst Trip in 2004 Traveled to Grailville Retreat Center outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, and to the Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee. This trip was sponsored by the Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership Office for Community Connections and the Office for Civic and Social Engagement. This was the third year for the Catalyst Trip and the first time that the OCSE joined in.

Before leaving, we met for a day-long workshop. One of the tasks was to make a mask of each of our own faces! We also started reflecting about race and racism, which remained our topic through the week.

We worked on our masks as we traveled, creating a symbol of transformation. After leaving South Bend, we arrived at Grailville (just outside Cincinnati) which is now a retreat center. It was founded originally as a base for the Grail movement, a lay Catholic women's movement started in 1921. The main house is the House of Joy, built in the late 1800's. The Caravansary is a renovated horse barn, and it was in this building that we held most of our meetings and workshops. We continued our conversations and explorations about race and racism, and we were led by two wonderful leaders, Rose Marie Harris and Dorothy Friesen.

While the topics were intense and the conversations provocative, there was plenty of time for reflection too...

For the first time, there were 15 Saint Mary's students on this trip, creating an opportunity for new friendships...

And we were joined by a number of community women from South Bend who added depth and vitality (and wisdom!) to the trip.

While at Grailville, we traveled to visit the Peaslee Community Center, located in the historic Over the Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati. There we spoke with women who had been involved in the fight to keep the community center open and active in the face of increasing gentrification of the community. The community center provides a wide range of programs and aid to low income women and families.

After visiting Peaslee we went to see Rev. Maurice McCraken's church. Rev. McCracken pastored an intentionally integrated church which started out as dually aligned with both the Presbyterian and Episcopalian denominations. However, as McCracken became involved in the peace movement in the 1960s, he was de-frocked as a Presbyterian. Undaunted, his congregation joined the Community Church movement and remains a community church to this day. McCracken has since died, but not before the Presbyterian church re-instated him as a pastor in good standing. The church is housed in an old 19th century building and is still vital and active, working to overcome the racial divide in Cincinnati.

Our final stop was at Off The Avenue, a renovated factory that is host to community space and artists' studios. This was a project taken on by Maureen Wood after she completed two previous projects -- turning abandoned schools into affordable housing. All of the people we met in Cincinnati reminded us of how much can be done when committed women come together to act!

After leaving Grailville we headed further south to the Highlander Research and Education Center located in the hills of Tennessee. Highlander was established in the 1930s by Miles Horton as a place where people could come and learn about community activism. It helped to train labor and textile activists in the 1930s and later became the primary training ground for Civil Rights activists including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These photos show the main building, and the circular main room where we held most of our meetings. The view over the hills was especially beautiful in the mornings.

While at Highlander we continued our discussions and reflections about race and racism, touching on some deep and powerful issues.

We also continued work on our masks, creating external, visible symbols of internal, personal transformation.

Finally, as we wrapped up our time there we celebrated with a closing campfire (and 'smores) and then made our way back to South Bend.

The Catalyst Trip was full of friendships, surprises, challenges, laughter, insights and transformations. Thanks to all who made it possible, especially the Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership!