Mourning our dead is one of the oldest and most important functions of a society; but it is one that tragically too many members of our overlooked communities miss out on - either the opportunity to do so for their friends and family, or at their own passing. We offer this section - with as much information as possible and certainly in the Dorothy Day spirit that “anything worth doing is worth doing poorly” - to try our meager best to show our friends and neighbors the dignity in death that we know every person possesses.

Although commonplace for many of us, having an ID is truly a precious commodity. It is like holding a set of keys that can get you into places and give you access to the things you need and want. It’s easy to take for granted when we have a driver’s license or state ID in our wallet. To get it, all we had to do was upload our information to the DMV website with our payment information and it was delivered right to our mailbox. The worst-case scenario is we had to take that undesirable trip to the DMV. But for some people, especially for someone experiencing homelessness or other poverty issues, obtaining an ID can seem like an insurmountable barrier.

Acts of kindness come in many forms. Whether it’s delivering clothing, water, shoes, and other necessities or helping connect individuals to services and resources, Susan Brossman and Lynn Kettler—better known as Street Moms—are always willing to lend a hand. They remind us that no act of kindness is ever too big or too small when it comes to helping someone in need.

Community members answer the question ‘What makes you feel confident?’

Independent thinker, cat lover, poet and aspiring motivational speaker are all words Maureen Mitchell would use to describe herself. And, as a writer, words are everything to Maureen. A Mustard Seed Mountain vendor and contributor, Maureen is passionate about sharing her story and uplifting those who struggle with mental illness.  

Maureen’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. She began experiencing severe symptoms of Bipolar Disorder when she reached college, and spent time in and out of psychiatric institutions. It took her several years to truly accept her diagnosis, Maureen said. For her, writing has become a way to manage her illness and learn to love herself.

I was visiting The Mother Jones Center for Resilient Community when a conversation came up about how all people are people, deserving dignity and respect. This led to the mention of Walter Reuther, some of the incredible things that he did in his lifetime, and that he grew up right here in Wheeling, West Virginia. I did not know much about him, but I love to learn, especially about history.  I asked if I could write a piece about this Walter Reuther for Mustard Seed Mountain. This endeavor became so fascinating that it has turned into a multi-part series.