Gathering Ground

This special "Gathering Ground" episode looks back at the most powerful conversations from 2025. Join Producer Vince Pagán-Hill as he revisits memorable moments that reveal how people create meaning, challenge injustice, and build collective power, from journalism and philanthropy to the arts, climate justice, and healthcare.

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 visibility are all tools for liberation.

Episode Highlights
- Anna DeShawn on building a Black queer media ecosystem through E3 Radio and Queer News
- Victor Salvo on the creation of the Legacy Walk and why public memory matters
- Haven Crawley on performing queer narratives and making space for youth expression

Links and Resources
- E3 Radio: https://e3radio.fm/
- Queer News Podcast: https://e3radio.fm/queer-news/
- Legacy Walk: https://legacyprojectchicago.org/legacy-walk

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Gathering Ground and leave us a review! Follow Morten Group, LLC on Instagram @mortengroup for more updates.

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.

Together, they reflect on the organization’s early days, the HIV/AIDS crisis, the fight for culturally competent care, and the political realities shaping LGBTQ+ health today. From personal stories to policy, this episode uplifts a community-centered legacy and the urgent work ahead.

Episode Highlights
- Dr. Travis Gayles on leading Howard Brown through a shifting political and public health landscape
- Ron Nunziato on the organization’s early days and its transformation during the AIDS crisis
- Jessica Halem and Staci Bush on culturally competent care and the legacy of the Lesbian Community Cancer Project

Links and Resources
- Howard Brown Health: https://howardbrown.org/

- Liberating Healthcare: https://donate.howardbrown.org/campaign/678582/donate

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Gathering Ground and leave us a review! Follow Morten Group, LLC on Instagram @mortengroup for more updates.

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 necessity.

Episode Highlights

- Jhmira Alexander on building trust and centering community through storytelling at Public Narrative
- Silvia Rivera on reimagining local news infrastructure at the MacArthur Foundation

- Susy Schultz on creating investigative tools to dismantle systemic racism in media

- Tracy Baim on the LGBTQ+ press, legacy media preservation, and Press Forward Chicago

Links and Resources

- Public Narrative: www.publicnarrative.org

- Press Forward Chicago: www.cct.org/pressforward

- MacArthur Foundation: www.macfound.org

- Investigative Project on Race and Equity: www.raceandequityproject.org

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Gathering Ground and leave us a review! Follow Morten Group, LLC on Instagram @mortengroup for more updates.

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 the Great Lakes region.

They discuss the legacy of environmental racism, the role of policy and federal investment, and how community-centered solutions, from permeable playgrounds to local volunteer programs, are building climate resilience.

Episode Highlights

- Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis shares her path from LGBTQ+ advocacy to water leadership and her vision for community-centered infrastructure.

-Joel Brammeier reflects on civic engagement, clean water access, and the regional work of the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

-Both guests speak to the intersection of climate change, racial justice, and the power of community-driven solutions.

Links and Resources

- Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis: www.mwrd.org/commissioner-precious-brady-davis

- Alliance for the Great Lakes: www.greatlakes.org

- MWRD Rain Barrel Program: www.mwrd.org/rain-barrels

- Learn more about your water: www.greatlakes.org/get-involved

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Gathering Ground and leave us a review! Follow Morten Group, LLC on Instagram @mortengroup for more updates.

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 censorship to the beauty of collective care and intergenerational strength, this conversation is a raw, reflective, and strategic look at what it takes to keep fighting - and keep feeling - in a world that demands both.

Episode Highlights:

- Angelique shares her reflections on urgency, cruelty, and the clarity required in today’s political climate.

- Tracie discusses her work on Black Information Future and the threats of narrative erasure.

- All three emphasize the role of self-care, ancestral wisdom, and Black joy as essential forms of resistance.

If you’ve been listening to "Gathering Ground" over the years, you know this is one of our most anticipated annual conversations—and we’re so grateful you’re here for it.

Find more: https://www.studiocchicago.com/gathering-ground

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 the evolution of CFW, the South Side Giving Circle, and the broader women’s funding movement, from personal pathways into philanthropy to the global push for justice and financial empowerment.

Episode Highlights:
- Christine Grumm on co-authoring The Uprising of Women in Philanthropy and decades of movement-building
- Alicia Bailey’s reflections on belonging, grantmaking, and collective giving in the South Side Giving Circle
- Keenya Lambert on becoming CFW’s new CEO and the legacy she’s proud to inherit and advance

Links and Resources:
- Chicago Foundation for Women – www.cfw.org
-The Uprising of Women in Philanthropy – www.womensfundingnetwork.org/the-uprising
- South Side Giving Circle – www.cfw.org/southside

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 the modern fight for inclusive, affirming healthcare, Tracy unpacks why she felt this history needed to be documented now. Together, they explore journalism, movement building, and the urgent need to preserve community memory.

Episode Highlights:
- Why Tracy felt compelled to document 50 years of Howard Brown Health’s legacy
- The role of Windy City Times in LGBTQ+ journalism and preserving community history
- Press Forward Chicago and what’s next for local, independent media

Links and Resources:
- Liberating Healthcare Book – donate.howardbrown.org/campaign/678582/donate
- Press Forward Chicago – www.cct.org/press-forward
- Windy City Times – www.windycitytimes.com

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 solidarity, and what it means to fund with equity, trust, and imagination. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating, challenging, or reimagining the philanthropic space.

Episode Highlights:
- How Kelly, Daisy, and Evette each found their way into philanthropy and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
- The growing call for philanthropy to move beyond charity toward solidarity, trust, and systems change.
- What gives each guest hope for the future of the sector, from young leaders to activist-informed grantmaking.

Links and Resources:
- Polk Bros. Foundation – www.polkbrosfdn.org
- Quad Cities Community Foundation – www.qccommunityfoundation.org

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 behind soap opera innovation
- How soaps pioneered social issue storytelling through shows like “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light”
- Natalie’s behind-the-scenes experience at “Days of Our Lives” and her journey creating this podcast passion project

Links and Resources:
- Making: Stories Without End – www.wbez.org/making-stories-without-end
- WBEZ – www.wbez.org
- Natalie Moore – www.natalieymoore.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Gathering Ground and leave us a review! Follow Morten Group, LLC on Instagram @mortengroup for more updates.