Four Arrows On June 23, 2024, William R. Groves, respected Chancellor of Antioch University, wrote the following in “Calling for Peace in Gaza and Healing at Antioch” in Antioch’s Common…
Jewish Mourning in the Present Catastrophe
Rachel Kunert-Graf (composed October 2023) The Jewish custom for burial requires that mourners shovel dirt onto the coffin ourselves. We bury our dead quickly. We join the movements of our…
8 Billion Eggs
1. Friday night we hire a sitter and go to the Hollywood Bowl to hear Sarah McLachlan play through her 30-year-old album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. After the opener we sit for a while…
On Marigolds: Untold Stories For International Romani Day
When I was eleven years old, my paternal grandmother took me to the supermarket to buy a push-up bra, a rotisserie chicken, and introduce me to my culture—my “birthright” as she called it.
She said to me, “Now that you’re older, Gracie m’dear, people are going to start caring about what you have to say about our people. People are going to start asking you questions. It’s important to me that you don’t get it wrong.”
To Be a Writer With Grief
Antioch Voices is a forum that allows members of our community to speak about an issue important to them. In this piece, coinciding with Gallbladder Cancer and Bile Duct Cancer Awareness Month, MFA student Stefanie Paredes considers what it means to be a writer with grief.
International Children’s Day
One of my favorite sounds is children at play. Coming from a background in theater, my partner and I have always valued play. Our kids are both encouraged to do a lot of it, which I believe serves them.
International Day of Tolerance
Declared a holiday by UNESCO in 1996, the International Day for Tolerance commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by United Nations Member States on November 16, 1995. The UN declared 1995 as the Year for Tolerance…
Who is my neighbor? Reflections on Youth Homelessness
Earlier this year, I moved from a suburb in Texas to a neighborhood in downtown Seattle. I was immediately confronted with the issue of homelessness in Seattle. In particular, I noticed a majority of the homeless I saw were youth and young adults.
Lesbian Mental Health is Marginalized—This LGBT History Month Let’s Change That
I returned to graduate school at age 40 to pursue a career as a therapist. It has always been a secret desire of mine, and when I unexpectedly lost my mother, I decided that this was the time to do everything I’ve always wanted to do. I knew returning to academia as an older adult would be challenging in various ways; however, it was undoubtedly the best decision.
Sharing You: A National Coming Out Story
Sitting there wanting to share your truth, choking on the words that describe your true self. Fear races through your mind that you may not be enough for them to stay. Your truth, a deep vulnerability, is not enough. A simple comment is like pulling tar from your mouth. “This moment is perfect,” you think to yourself,
What a Proud Jew Wants Others to Know About Jewish American Heritage Month
When I had my brother on the phone a few months ago, he asked me out of the blue if I was proud to be Jewish. I told him, of course, I was. My first book of poetry, which hadn’t been released yet, would be titled Kosher, a title that I chose to pay homage to my Jewish roots (despite not keeping kosher during my meals).
National Endangered Species Day
Take notice and take action. It was care that spurred change. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the landmark Endangered Species Act. Signed in 1973, this bill arose after more than a decade of advocacy and litigation from scientists, writers, and concerned citizens who noticed sharp declines in iconic wildlife species.