Today we met with a remarkable woman named Caral Ni Chuilin, an ex-political prisoner and human rights activist who has been fighting for the equal treatment for her own community in Norther Ireland for years. The first thing  that stood out about meeting her is her authentic commitment to her community and approachable nature. My own vision of politicians in America is that they feel very far-removed. This could not have been further from the case with Caral.  The other message that hit home from our time with her is the importance of community interventions and treatment being for the people and by the people. Too often I believe a distant academic mindset develops programs that simply do not translate into the communities they are implemented in. For true treatment and healing to occur the community input is vital and all-too often overshadowed by those in power. Internet cafe is closing, more later…

Katie Murphy