Dignity Inside & Out with Mary Heinen McPherson

The Dignity Lab

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Mary Heinen McPherson, a survivor of domestic violence, shares her experiences with the injustices of the prison system and the role of art in reclaiming dignity. She advocates for incarcerated people and prison reform, using her own experiences to support formerly incarcerated individuals. Mary discusses the power of art, theater, and writing in healing and returning home. She emphasizes the importance of reclaiming dignity through advocacy, activism, and retelling one's own story. The conversation explores themes of justice, freedom, power, healing, and the violation and reclamation of dignity.
Episode Resources

• More about Mary Heinen
• Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy
• Augusto Boal was heavily influenced by Paulo Freire's educational philosophy, especially his seminal work "Pedagogy of the Oppressed."
• More about Buzz Alexander
• More about the Prison Creative Arts Program
• PCAP’s Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing

Takeaways

• Art, including theater and writing, plays a crucial role in reclaiming dignity and healing from the harms of the prison system.
• Advocacy and activism are essential in addressing the injustices and disparities within the correctional system.
• Reclaiming dignity involves retelling one's own story and becoming the subject rather than the object of harm.
• The power of art lies in making the invisible visible and creating freedom through movement and expression.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.
For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.
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