One of my favorite bands is The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars. They sing a song: “Living like a refugee is not easy….” One day in 2004 I was driving with Sarah B. over the Charles River. We were taking SA to the Dance … Read More
A moment of crisis becomes a moment of opportunity when: 1) We view a crisis as a shared challenge rather than our own personal predicament 2) Our organizational process is flexible 3) Our organizational … Read More
Lisa Fliegel with Words from Eran Halperin — Researchers found that showing people extreme versions of ideas that confirmed — not contradicted — their opinions on a deeply divisive issue actually caused them to reconsider their stance and become more receptive … Read More
Tragedy is not a competiton; it’s not a suffering olympics where the goal is the gold medal of atrocity. In a recent New York Times article and a subsequent NPR story the journalist Anne Barnard commented that we need to … Read More
Lisa Fliegel – Erev, Erev Christmas Trauma exposure & disability Students who experience traumatic events while growing up in poor, turbulent neighborhoods could be considered disabled, a federal judge has ruled in a high-profile case involving the Compton, Calif., schools. … Read More
Lisa Fliegel, Woody Allen, Ben Shahn — “Where there is a book there is no sword” — Ben Shahn 1950 Now that I think of it, there must have been 10 of us. The side seats were five to a row, … Read More
I was with my friend Abrigal Forrester the other day. We were talking about Trauma and he used the term Practice-based Evidence. I was so excited to hear that phrase for the first time. Too often front-line trauma workers feel burdened, stymied, and barricaded by the … Read More
Last post was about trauma so this one will be about resilience. I love this passage from David Nicholl’s book (Vintage, NY, 2009. Pg. 433) One Day. Live each day of your life as if it’s your last.’ That was the … Read More
Lisa Fliegel + Woody Allen + Ben Shahn — In 9th grade I went to see the movie Annie Hall in Newton Center with a big group of friends. It was a sweet little theatre you could walk to from … Read More
I wrote this years ago, but it floated back up — in light of Trump’s recent theatrics: The ‘Alta Zachyn’ man makes his way around the neighborhood most mornings looking for old and used things to be bought and resold. He makes … Read More