Mary is a sometimes speaker, not-often-enough poet, aspiring memoirist, full-time Marriage & Family Therapist (psychotherapist), Community Chaplain in Training, overtime worker for Mental Health and Harm Reduction Justice, Circle Keeper, reluctant and clumsy leader, passionate stigma shatterer, eager student, and all-the-time proud mother and lover of my family (legal and chosen), critters, trees, trails, music, and all things purple. Mary founded Just Love and Just Love's work of installing Purple Pantries at community locations (at community agencies, churches, public spaces...) for 24/7 access to supplies and resources for Harm Reduction (including naloxone and testing strips, and information), Multiple Paths to Recovery, and Grief Support (for folx who have lost a loved one to overdose or other substance use cause, or live with that fear - including a Purple Mailbox for letters of remembrance, hope, fear, and grief).
Mary's Facebook
Family/Grief Support and Harm Reduction Justice - founded by Mary
Mary's work that pays for the rest :)
EXPERIENCES
Show Date
Thu 3 Sep 2026 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
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| Title Short | Memoir Writing as Spiritual Practice |
| Venue | Writers Workshop |
| Experience Description | Facilitated by Jamie Marich
Hosted in Writer's Workshop by Mary McKinney and Sarah Skinner
Many folks believe that they have to be famous or have the most uniquely original life story to write a memoir. Or we may believe that the only worthy memoirs are from those writers who are lucky enough to sign on with a major publisher and have their books end up on the New York Times bestseller list. What if you could approach writing your memoir-or a nuanced exploration of one aspect of your life-as spiritual practice? Or as a vital component of how you process and heal? In this day-long workshop, trauma specialist, author, and memoirist Dr. Jamie Marich gives you gentle guidance on approaching the creation of your memoir as a spiritual or healing practice. Whether you have an intention to share your writing with the world, or whether you are engaging in this writing process for your own health and healing (or some combination of motivation), you are welcome to join us for this collaborative experience. A long-time writer who brings in aspects of her own life into clinical writing that she calls \memoir-ish,\ Jamie has gone through the process of writing a formal memoir, \You Lied to Me About God.\ She has a great deal of information and insight to share about memoir writing and the fusion of expressive arts practice, as well as using the process of constructing your memoir to deepen your spiritual and/or healing practice. Please come prepared to write. Although sharing your work is not required to participate in the experience, it is encouraged and there will be several chances given for sharing within a supportive, expressive arts framework for giving and receiving feedback. |
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Show Date
Fri 4 Sep 2026 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
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| Title Short | Purple Pantry installation (Harm Reduction, Recovery, Grief) |
| Venue | Commons |
| Experience Description | Together, let us hold the grief and fear of substance use problems/risks - as well as Hope of Recovery and Community.
PURPLE PANTRIES (PPs) offer 24/7 free resources for:
hARM rEDUCTION:
• naloxone (opioid overdose reversal medication)
• fentanyl/xylazine test strips (reduce poisoning risk), and
• QR codes for (h)arm (r)eduction and (H)arm (R)eduction* (hr/HR) resources.
*See justloveem.weebly.com for hr/HR definitions.
MULTIPLE PATHS OF RECOVERY:
• 12-Step/other self-help QR codes,
• SUDs (Substance Use Disorder) treatment QR codes,
• hr/HR resources, including Peer Support services/programs, QR codes.
Support People who Love Folx with SUDs, including those who GRIEVE LOVED ONES LOST TO OVERDOSE OR POISONING DEATH (and other SUD causes):
• Grieving Overdose zines,
• grief support QR codes, and
• PURPLE MAILBOX* for remembrance letters/notes.
Also, hang pictures and words* remembering your loved one(s).
*Unless otherwise marked by you, shared phrases and names will be used to create a FOUND POEM, honoring lost lives, those who seek recovery or otherwise live with SUDs, and those who love them.
Saturday - Found poem/your offerings will be shared with Goose community.
Found poem will be posted on WGF and Just Love social media.
****Want a PP in your area?
• see Mary McKinney (text 828-278-7454) or
• inquiry contact at justloveem.weebly.com.
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Show Date
Sat 5 Sep 2026 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
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| Title Short | Purple Pantry installation (Harm Reduction, Recovery, Grief) |
| Venue | Commons |
| Experience Description | Together, let us hold the grief and fear of substance use problems/risks - as well as Hope of Recovery and Community.
PURPLE PANTRIES (PPs) offer 24/7 free resources for:
hARM rEDUCTION:
• naloxone (opioid overdose reversal medication)
• fentanyl/xylazine test strips (reduce poisoning risk), and
• QR codes for (h)arm (r)eduction and (H)arm (R)eduction* (hr/HR) resources.
*See justloveem.weebly.com for hr/HR definitions.
MULTIPLE PATHS OF RECOVERY:
• 12-Step/other self-help QR codes,
• SUDs (Substance Use Disorder) treatment QR codes,
• hr/HR resources, including Peer Support services/programs, QR codes.
Support People who Love Folx with SUDs, including those who GRIEVE LOVED ONES LOST TO OVERDOSE OR POISONING DEATH (and other SUD causes):
• Grieving Overdose zines,
• grief support QR codes, and
• PURPLE MAILBOX* for remembrance letters/notes.
Also, hang pictures and words* remembering your loved one(s).
*Unless otherwise marked by you, shared phrases and names will be used to create a FOUND POEM, honoring lost lives, those who seek recovery or otherwise live with SUDs, and those who love them.
Saturday - Found poem/your offerings will be shared with Goose community.
Found poem will be posted on WGF and Just Love social media.
****Want a PP in your area?
• see Mary McKinney (text 828-278-7454) or
• inquiry contact at justloveem.weebly.com.
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