By: Cam Cassar
On Thursday, November 17th, 2022, MHCR team members Merisa Mattix and Cam Cassar traveled to the Reformed Church of Bronxville (RCB) in Bronxville, New York to present the work of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation (MHCR) to congregants of the church and friends of the Center. The Reformed Church of Bronxville was where Mary Hoch herself attended church before her tragic passing a few years ago. This event was filled with congregants of the church and members of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation Board and featured a light dinner with our presentation.
The primary goal of the trip was to present on MHCR’s work over the past year. After an opening video greeting from our Director, Antti Pentikainen, the presentations included highlights from Mary Macintosh, a RCB congregant who traveled with our staff on their recent trip to Kenya to take part in a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Co-Creation Workshop which brought together scholars and practitioners from all over the Horn of Africa. This event was organized by MHCR Insider Reconcilers, Dr. Tecla Namachanja Wanjala and Rowda Olad. Mary discussed how eye opening it was to take part in the conference and how important it is to support these processes. Mary shared stories from talking with workshop participants who were victims of various forms of violence ranging, from political violence to sexual violence, and how these individuals turned to trauma-informed practices to facilitate their healing.
Our dinner then featured a showing of Into the Light, an upcoming MHCR-produced film discussing the trauma within the indigenous populations of Alaska and the Sami people in Finland and efforts to help these populations address the institutional harms which have been perpetrated against them. Into the Light will be released December 8th.
The final portion of the event was Merisa’s presentation of MHCR’s 2022 Annual Report and Cam’s presentation of the work MHCR’s partner organization, Think Peace Learning and Support Hub, has conducted over the past year. MHCR’s Annual Report presentation highlighted the high-level research our students have conducted this year, ranging from de-conversion in the Mormon Church to the resilience and mental health of insider peacebuilders in conflict zones. The Annual Report also showcased fieldwork that our team members have conducted, both internationally and domestically. MHCR’s third Annual Report will be released in the coming weeks.
Overall, Merisa and Cam, as student staff members, had the unique opportunity to build relationships in a community that has supported MHCR since its advent. It was a great occasion to emphasize the great work of the Mary Hoch Foundation entities to some longtime supporters.
