In this reflective piece, Mary Coughlin explores the intersection of music, healing, and trauma-informed care. Inspired by a folk music collaboration, she reflects on how presence, creativity, and the artist’s heart are essential to caregiving, leadership, and personal transformation.
What if the real threat to democracy isn’t just a villain—but a system built on fear, division, and disconnection? This essay invites us to look deeper, stop blaming, and begin the real work of healing through belonging, responsibility, and repair.