Michael Patrick MacDonald

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Michael Patrick MacDonald (born March 9, 1966) is an Irish American activist and author specialising in crime and violence. Mcdonald also the authored of a bestselling memoir.^[1] his memoir, All Souls: A Family Story From Southie, combines his heritage with his passion for the anti-violence movement. MacDonald helped start Boston's gun-buyback program and founded the South Boston Vigil group, a local community group that works to honor Southie's victims of gun violence.^[2]

In 1999, he received the Daily Point of Light Award, which honors people who connect Americans through community service. MacDonald has also been awarded an Anne Cox Chambers Fellowship award at the MacDowell Colony, a Bellagio Center Fellowship through the Rockefeller Foundation, and residencies at the Blue Mountain Center and Djerassi Artists Residency Program. He received the Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey for his courage and committed efforts to stem the tide of inner city violence through the establishment of the gun-buyback program in Boston.

As of ^[when?] MacDonald lives in Brooklyn, New York and devotes his time to writing and public speaking on topics ranging from "Race and Class in America" to "Trauma, Healing, and Social Change." MacDonald is also a writer in Residence at Northeastern University in Boston.

MacDonald has also been involved in various social justice initiatives and educational programs. He regularly collaborates with community organizations to address issues related to systemic violence and socioeconomic disparities. His work includes developing "The Rest of the Story," a trauma-informed writing curriculum that has been implemented in diverse settings, including prisons, poverty alleviation programs, and survivor groups. This curriculum aims to transform personal trauma into agency and advocacy.^[3]

Additionally, MacDonald is a frequent guest lecturer at academic institutions, focusing on narrative storytelling as a tool for advocacy and social change. His efforts extend internationally, as demonstrated by his Fulbright Scholarship at Queen’s University in Belfast, where he introduced storytelling methodologies to empower grassroots organization.^[4]