Getting Together in New York

As the director of the Dart Society and a member of the first class of fellows, I’ve watched as the Dart community has cemented itself at the forefront of the coverage of trauma and journalism. I’ve gotten to know most of the Dart Fellows and found instant friendship and inspiration from so many of these colleagues, who are also eager to help further the cause: to model and support the best journalism often under the worst circumstances. I’ve done so from Wyoming, where I’ve lived since 1992.

When the Dart Society hired me, I made it my mission to reach out to my fellow fellows. The best thing about the fellowship program, other than we get an excellent understanding of trauma theory, is the connections we make during the week or during subsequent gatherings. It seems we come together and can’t imagine we will ever go back to the sorts of intellectual, emotional and professional isolation we all live in — regardless of location. But we do.

It’s hard reaching out, especially when it’s most crucial to do so. And it wasn’t always easy dialing the phone from my outpost on a ranch in the foothills of the Bighorns, particularly after I left my daily newspaper job. I was shy about calling these heavy-hitters — and I’ve learned they are just as shy about reaching out to one another. But is has always been rewarding, and it’s gotten easier, and I have urged everyone in the society to do it — check in, meet up. When I hear about fellows getting together, I am so grateful. I think the reason our organization works so well is because of that outreach — and that is, in fact, our mission.

So last week in New York, where I was to meet with a mentor, Judy Fox of the Louis August Jonas Foundation, who has decades of experience in non-profit management, and her colleague Ruthellen Rubin, who teaches courses in fund-raising at NYU, I did a little outreach. Thanks to the great photographer John Trotter for the photos.

There were moments in New York that occur frequently when I am around Dart Society members and realize the weight they carry, weight they took on willingly, bravely, not knowing it would last forever. And I do what I suspect all Dart journalists do, which is recognize it and buck up, and in shouldering some of it by being present, my own weight is momentarily lifted.

It happened first with Maria Alvarez on Wednesday, as we walked around Ground Zero, which is her neighborhood. There was a moment when we were walking around just like you walk around New York and it hit me we were there. We stepped onto a curb and a Ground Zero worker stuck a walkie-talkie into Maria’s face, playfully, as if he were a TV journalist. They smiled at each other and she kept walking. She told me more of her story of that time — because it’s isn’t just a day for her — and she told me she didn’t know the man, but that people around her know she’s one of them. “They can feel me,” she said, stopping. And then it happened. We were at the corner of Fire Station 10, and I stood there looking into her gorgeous Bolivian face and she said, “That’s why I did the walking tours.”

It feels sad here, I told her. She looked grateful for the observation. “Isn’t it?” she said.

The next feeling was hopeful, and of great friendship. If you don’t know Maria, you really need to meet her. She is extremely cool — I met her during her fellowship in 2002 in Baltimore, and she was 11 months pregnant but wearing Manolos and a very fancy dress. She has the thickest New York accent I have ever heard north of New Orleans, and was apparently raised at the teat of editors named Rocco; she is as crusty as you get.

I introduced her that night to Jacques Menache, a 2010 fellow and close colleague of Lori Grinker who also witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center.  Jacques wrote the text of “11: Witnessing the World Trade Center, 1974-2001.”  They shared bits of their stories from the day, but only as a starting point: there were flashes of conversation that sparked immediate connection between them about what’s happened since to the schools, the government, society, themselves. When Jacques and I left to see 2005 Fellow David Loyn’s discussion after the first segment of “The Great Game,” Maria was determined to have monthly get-togethers of the New York fellows.

Me hugging Jacques. (John Trotter)

Ron, Jacques and Lori at the Old Town Bar. (John Trotter)

She was unable to join us when five of us met up at the Old Town Bar at Union Square, Lori Grinker (’05), John Trotter (’07), Ron Haviv (’04) and Jacques. Lori was proud to announce that she was turned on to Dart by Ron, and that she brought Jacques and John into the fold in subsequent years. It was a wonderful time of laughter and fellowship.