Gathering Ground

Hosted by Mary F. Morten

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Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Join consultant, filmmaker and activist Mary F. Morten as she delves into what it’s like to operate within and outside of the nonprofit landscape. Along with her special guests, Mary answers questions from listeners and covers topics including racial and gender equity, and the experiences of people of color in leadership development and the nonprofit workforce.

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60 recent

May 14, 2026Episode 861 hr 6 min

Episode 87: Thriving Out Loud - The GenderCool Project

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten sits down with Chase Glenn, Executive Director of the GenderCool Project, and GenderCool champions Chazzie Grosshandler and Ashton Mota to explore how storytelling, joy, and visibility are reshaping the conversation around trans and non-binary youth. At a time when legislation like Kansas's retroactive ID restrictions are making headlines, GenderCool is centering something the news rarely shows: young people who are not just surviving, but thriving. Together, Chase, Chazzie, and Ashton trace the origins of GenderCool, share their own powerful coming-out stories, and make the case that the antidote to fear-driven narratives is something deceptively simple -- actually getting to know trans youth as the full human beings they are.Episode Highlights- Chazzie Grosshandler on founding GenderCool at her family's kitchen table after coming out in fourth grade, and why she and her parents knew that if people could just get to know transgender and non-binary young people, everything could change- Ashton Mota on coming out to his mom on his 12th birthday, growing up in a Caribbean household navigating cultural and religious dynamics, and how his family eventually opened their home as a foster placement for LGBTQ+ youth of color- Chase Glenn on moving from policy advocacy in South Carolina to leading GenderCool in Chicago and why he sees personal storytelling, not legislation, as the most powerful force available to the trans community right nowIf 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.

April 23, 2026Episode 861 hr 2 min

Episode 86: The Power of Survivors: Art, Advocacy and the Fight to End Gender-based Violence

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary sits down with Scheherazade Tillet, founder and executive director of A Long Walk Home, and Kaethe Morris Hoffer, executive director of CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation), for a searching conversation about art, accountability, and what it means to keep doing this work when the political ground keeps shifting beneath you. Together, they trace their paths into this fight, reflect on what the Epstein revelations expose about power and complicity, and share the stories of resilience -- and record-breaking impact -- that are keeping them grounded right now.Episode Highlights:- Scheherazade Tillet on co-founding A Long Walk Home 24 years ago from her own healing journey -- and how photography and art became the foundation for training young Chicago women to become artist-activists fighting gender-based violence- Kaethe Morris Hoffer on CAASE's record year -- 244 survivors served, new legal work representing incarcerated women who experienced sexual harm, and lawsuits filed against the Illinois Department of Corrections- Both guests on navigating federal funding cuts and anti-DEI pressureIf 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.

March 26, 2026Episode 851 hr 4 min

Episode 85: Leading from the Inside Out: Rockwood Leadership Institute at 25

What does it mean to lead a movement when the movement itself is under pressure? In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary sits down with Darlene Nipper, CEO of Rockwood Leadership Institute, and Russell Roybal, Board Chair of Rockwood and Executive Vice President at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, to mark Rockwood’s 25th anniversary and explore what it truly means to lead from the inside out.Episode Highlights- Darlene Nipper on Rockwood’s evolution — from environmental training to a cross-movement leadership powerhouse that centers leaders of color and LGBTQ+ communities- Russell Roybal on the “elevator exercise” — a pivotal Rockwood experience that helped him trace workplace triggers back to childhood, and why personal leadership is inseparable from organizational leadership- Leading with joy: How Rockwood’s approach breaks leaders down and builds them back up, centered in what truly matters to them- How Rockwood is responding to the current political moment - with new grassroots programs, community crisis response, and unwavering investment in leader renewalIf 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.

March 12, 2026Episode 841 hr 18 min

Episode 84: Funding Justice: Community Power and the Future of Philanthropy

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary speaks with Sharon Bush, President of Grand Victoria Foundation, and Sol Anderson, President and CEO of Evanston Community Foundation, about how philanthropy can move closer to the communities it seeks to serve. Drawing from their distinct place-based work across Illinois and in Evanston, they discuss trust-based grantmaking, community-led decision making, and the responsibilities funders hold in advancing racial justice.Sharon and Sol reflect on how foundations can support grassroots leadership, sustain commitments to equity in a shifting political climate, and rethink traditional funding models. Their conversation highlights the importance of proximity, trust, and collaboration in building philanthropic practices that strengthen communities and support lasting change.Episode Highlights:- Sharon Bush on pioneering trust-based philanthropy and sustaining racial justice commitments across Illinois- Sol Anderson on community-led grantmaking and the importance of proximity to power- A look inside two foundations rethinking how resources flow to grassroots leaders- Why rest, renewal, and imagination matter for movement leaders and funders alike

February 20, 2026Episode 831 hr 9 min

Episode 83: Burn It Down or Build It Better? Reckoning with Power in the Nonprofit Sector

This episode of "Gathering Ground" brings together two sector-shifting leaders: Bina Patel, CEO of Saathi Impact Consulting, and Vu Le, writer of the blog Nonprofit AF. With honesty and clarity, they join Mary to examine how the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors perpetuate inequality, reward compliance, and resist transformation.Together, they explore how movements are being co-opted, how "toxic intellectualizing" replaces real action, and why we must stop maintaining systems we claim to be dismantling.Episode Highlights:- Bina Patel on strategic compliance and the quiet parts that keep systems unjust- Vu Le on the myth of philanthropy and why nonprofits must get political- A call to stop obeying tyranny in advance and begin organizing for collective liberationLinks and Resources:- Saathi Impact Consulting – https://saathiimpact.com- Nonprofit AF Blog – https://nonprofitaf.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.

January 29, 2026Episode 821 hr 0 min

Episode 82: State by State: The Ongoing Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary sits down with three powerhouse advocates — Dr. Latonya Penny, Cathy Renna, and Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy — for a timely conversation about what LGBTQ+ rights look like across the U.S.From legislative battles to grassroots resistance, the episode traces the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hope fueling this moment. Guests reflect on the real-life impact of policy wins and setbacks, the resilience of LGBTQ+ communities in the South, and the growing need for coalitions that center intersectionality, joy, and long-term strategy.Episode Highlights:- Dr. Penny on how Southern LGBTQ+ leaders are resisting burnout and building power despite political pressure- Illinois State Representative Cassidy on expanding coalitions beyond shared identity or ideology, and why it works- Cathy Renna on executive orders, misinformation, and why local education and media matter more than everLinks and Resources- Laughing Gull Foundation – www.laughinggull.org- National LGBTQ Task Force – www.thetaskforce.org- Rep. Kelly Cassidy – www.repcassidy.comIf 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.

January 14, 2026Episode 811 hr 10 min

Episode 81: Who Gets to Stay: Land, Memory, and Belonging in a Changing City

In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten sits down with four brilliant artists and activists to explore the intersection of art and social change. Amanda Williams, Tonika Lewis Johnson, Lisa Yun Lee, and Shannon Downey share how their personal histories, creative practices, and collaborations fuel powerful movements for justice, community, and joy.Together, they reflect on how art can illuminate systemic inequities, bring people together across differences, and create the conditions for new futures.Episode Highlights:• Amanda Williams and Tonika Lewis Johnson on their collaborative projects and the politics of place• Shannon Downey on craft as community organizing and creative resistance• Lisa Yun Lee on the National Public Housing Museum as a civic anchorLinks and Resources:Tonika Johnson – https://www.tonijphotography.comNational Public Housing Museum – https://www.nphm.orgAmanda Williams – https://awstudioart.com/home.htmlShannon Downey – https://www.badasscrossstitch.comIf 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.

December 22, 2025Episode 801 hr 21 min

Episode 80: Best of 2025: Stories of Care, Creativity, and Collective Power

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.

December 4, 2025Episode 7958 min

Episode 79: Living Out Loud: Queer Visibility in Action

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

November 13, 2025

Episode 78: 50 Years of Care: Howard Brown Health, Legacy, and the Future of LGBTQ+ Health

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 ProjectLinks and Resources- Howard Brown Health: https://howardbrown.org/- Liberating Healthcare: https://donate.howardbrown.org/campaign/678582/donateIf 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.