Dawn Shegonee and Ron Berger
This article was prepared for “The Capital City Hues” (Dec. 10, 2015).
On November 21, 2015 more than 70 people from around the state of Wisconsin who are working for social change gathered in the Native American tradition for a “Circle of Leadership” to learn and share with one another. Held at the Kromrey Middle School in Middleton, a stunning state-of-the-art green building, the “Forward Together: Solutions for our Future!” event was designed to help participants think outside of their individual “silos” and leave with the certainty that they are not laboring alone.
“Forward Together: Solutions for Our Future!” was sponsored by Art and Dawn Shegonee of the Call for Peace Drum and Dance Company and anewpeople.net. The Call for Peace Drum and Dance Company, founded in 1990, has performed throughout the world spreading a message of peace, justice, and interconnectedness through the universal language of dance, traditional drums, and contemporary music. Anewpeople.net is a beautifully designed educational website where people can find information on a variety of topics related to the betterment of our planet and humankind.
The inspiring 3 ½ hour program opened with remarks by Art and Dawn, who recalled an Ojibwe prophecy: “It is said that when the water turns to poison, and we can no longer eat the fish, a new people will emerge. They will have a choice between two roads. One road is the unsustainable technology of greed, and the other is the slower road to spirituality, where there is reverence for all living things.”
Other keynote speakers included Patty Loew, UW-Madison professor of life sciences and communication, filmmaker, and author of Seventh Generation Earth Ethics; Anne Egan Waukau, media relations specialist for the Wisconsin Educational Council; and Sheila Plotkin, retired Milwaukee Schools special education teacher, who spoke about “Public Schools: The Future of our Democracy.”
The main part of the program was organized thematically around three “circles of leadership”: The Environment; Education, Labor, Racial Justice, Voting, and Grassroots; and Interfaith and Wellness. Eighteen leaders told their personal stories and described the nature of their work. Leaders who are “guiding from the heart” for the common good discovered what others are doing that works, where common ground lies, and how we can help one another through the creation of “fusion coalitions.”
During the course of the event, other represented groups had the opportunity to speak, and Randy Stoecker, UW-Madison professor of community and environmental sociology, offered a concluding reflective summary.
Also, the first annual A New People Choice Awards were given to Dianne Aldrich, Pat Popple, Nate Timm, and Robin Chamberlain Transo; and Heather DeBois Bourenane received an “Into the Future Award.”
The awards were presented by Art and Dawn Shegonee and Anne Egan Waukau, with Dawn noting that “We are no longer simply citizens of a city, or country. We live in a planetary civilization.” Robin Chamberlain Transo added, “I was very honored with A New People’s Choice Award…We are part of [a movement] that works for the betterment of the world…From left to right are people who fought for clean water, against frac-sand mining, for access to health care, for Wisconsin grassroots…for education!”
Featured artists at the event included Michelle Moran, Our Connection, the People, as well artists who work has been displayed at the Overture Center: Beth Racette, Gaias Series, The Earth; Mary Kay Newman and Helen Klebesadel, The Flowers Are Burning; and John Steines The Witness Tree Project.
In 2016, a second gathering of this nature will be held, as will a series of New People Talks molded after TED Talks called “Facing the Crisis of Our Age: Our Future! Our Choice!” Information about these events will be posted on www.anewpeople.net or contact Dawn at www.callforpeace@callforpeace.org or 608-469-8572.