Gathering Ground

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary sits down with three powerhouse advocates — Dr. Latonya Penny, Cathy Renna, and Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy — for a timely conversation about what LGBTQ+ rights look like across the U.S.

From legislative battles to grassroots resistance, th...

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten sits down with four brilliant artists and activists to explore the intersection of art and social change. Amanda Williams, Tonika Lewis Johnson, Lisa Yun Lee, and Shannon Downey share how their personal histories, creative practices, and collaborations fuel powerful movements for justice, community, and j...

Summary
In this episode of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten sits down with three dynamic guests (Anna DeShawn, Victor Salvo, and Haven Crawley) for a powerful conversation about queer joy, representation, and the enduring fight for LGBTQ+ equity. From grassroots media to public art, the stories shared in this episode remind us that history, creativity, and visib...

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary leads a powerful conversation marking the 50th anniversary of Howard Brown Health, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ health organizations. With guests Staci Bush, Ron Nunziato, Jessica Halem, and current CEO Dr. Travis Gayles, the discussion traces Howard Brown’s past, present, and future.

This episode of "Gathering Ground" brings together four visionary media leaders—Jhmira Alexander, Silvia Rivera, Susy Schultz, and Tracy Baim—for a candid conversation about the state and future of journalism. They explore the collapse of legacy news models, the spread of misinformation, and why community-centered, equity-driven journalism is not just a goal, but a nec...

Summary

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten welcomes Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and Joel Brammeier, CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, for a powerful conversation on environmental justice, water equity, and community voice in t...

In this annual fireside chat episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten is joined once again by friends, leaders, and truth-tellers Tracie Hall and Angelique Power. Together in Chicago, they reflect on a year marked by grief, resistance, clarity, and community.

From the normalization of cruelty and cen...

Welcome to Season 8 of “Gathering Ground”! We’re kicking things off with a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW). Host Mary Morten is joined by Christine Grumm, Alicia Bailey, and Keenya Lambert for a powerful conversation on philanthropy, collective giving, and building community from the ground up.

Together, they reflect on ...

In this live edition of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten welcomes longtime friend and Chicago media icon Tracy Baim to discuss her latest book, “Liberating Healthcare: 50 Years of Resistance, Resilience, and Healing at Howard Brown Health.”

From the early days of LGBTQ+ organizing to t...

Mary is joined by Kelly Thompson, Daisy Moran (Quad Cities Community Foundation), and Evette Cardona (Polk Bros. Foundation) for a powerful conversation on the philosophies and practices of philanthropy.

They reflect on their personal paths into the sector, the shift from charity to solida...

In this special live episode of “Gathering Ground,” Mary sits down with journalist Natalie Moore to talk about her new podcast, “Making: Stories Without End.” The series explores the cultural and political power of soap operas—yes, soap operas—and why they deserve a second look.

Episode Highlights:
- The untold history of Erna Phillips and the women ...

In this episode of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten speaks with Juan Pablo Torres-Meza and Shirlonda Brooks from Elevate. In this third and final episode in our series with Elevate, the three discuss how equity and sustainability intersect in workforce development. This conversation dives into how Elevate is equipping individuals and small businesses with the tools...

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten sits down with two influential figures in the arts: Esther Grimm, Executive Advisor and former Executive Director of 3Arts, and Avery R. Young, Chicago’s Poet Laureate. Together, they discuss the power of mentorship, the evolving role of social media in the arts, and the lasting impact of creative express...

Visit ignitepromise.org to learn more about Ignite’s upcoming Ignite and Shine Gala on April 5th, which plays a crucial role in sustaining their vital work!

In this episode of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten sits down with Stephanie Piccirilli, CEO of Ignite, a Chicago-based organization dedic...

In this episode of Gathering Ground, host Mary Morten is joined by two powerhouse journalists, Natalie Moore and Tracy Baim, to explore the shifting landscape of media, the critical role of local journalism, and how storytelling continues to shape public discourse.

Together, they discuss the urgency of supporting independent journalism, the power of com...

In this special bonus episode of "Gathering Ground," we take a look back at some of our favorite conversations from 2024. Join us as we revisit the stories that moved us, the insights that challenged us, and the ideas that inspired us.

Visit the "Gathering Ground" show page: gatheringgroundpodcast.com.

In this special year-end episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten is joined by longtime friends of the podcast Angelique Power and Tracie Hall for the fifth annual Fireside Chat.

Together, they reflect on the challenges, resilience, and triumphs of Black women in leadership, sharing insights into their lived experiences navigating systemic inequities, fostering self-care, and building community in their work.

Episode Highlight...

In this episode of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten is joined by four leaders in climate justice and environmental advocacy to discuss the transformative impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its potential to advance equity through climate action. Mary welcomes Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate; Adal Regis, Director of Elevate's Justice 40 Accelerator; Andrew Beideman, Chief Strategy Officer at Pritzker Traubert Foundation; ...