Common Memory Tour 2025

Ya'at'eeh my relatives. It has only been a few months since President Trump's inauguration, but our political divide has once again reached epidemic levels. Social media is exhausting, public spaces are tense, global relationships are strained, and government workspaces are toxic. Even people who voted for Trump are concerned about the future of their jobs, the return on their retirement investments, our partnerships with our allies and the security of our most "Top Secret" communications.

The Democrats blame Trump, Trump blames Biden, Bernie Sanders blames the billionaires, the billionaires blame the poor, and the GOP led Congress is currently unwilling to publicly oppose the agenda of a Republican President who desperately wants to be King .

So, what do we do?

Many people are protesting. Others are lobbying. Some are using civil disobedience, and some (tragically) are resorting to violence. Much of the nation believes our problems are partisan and therefore see the solutions as binary. But I am convinced our challenges are much deeper; embedded within our political (and religious) foundations.

In response I have curated two paradigm shifting presentations specifically for this moment. The first presentation is titled "Christian Nationalism, Creation Stories and Corn: Understanding the Doctrine of Discovery's Devastating Influence on our Health, our Faith(s) and our Politics". This presentation uses the Doctrine of Discovery as historical context to understand the chaotic political environment, deep social divides, polarizing religious theologies and chronic health challenges that our society is facing today.

The second presentation is about the true legacy of Abraham Lincoln; not only was he a blatant, unapologetic and self-proclaimed white supremacist but he was also one of the most genocidal Presidents in US history. This presentation, which I’m simply calling my “Lincoln Event” doesn’t just shift the paradigm on who Abraham Lincoln was, but it challenges the audience to wrestle with, “what does it say about us, and our Nation, that this white supremacist and genocidal President is considered by many (both Democrats and Republicans) to be the greatest President in US history?”

When George Erasmus, an elder from the Dene Nation, was writing about the Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, he used the following quote:

"Where common memory is lacking, where people do not share in the same past, there can be no real community. Where community is to be formed, common memory must be created."

I have developed these presentations, and am doing everything I can to share them throughout our nation because I am convinced that if we want to forge a better path forward, we must first understand how we arrived at our chaotic and divisive present.

In other words, we need to create a more accurate Common Memory. And I would like to ask for your help in doing exactly that.

Normally, in the winter and spring seasons, my schedule is filled with invitations to speak at Colleges, Universities and conferences throughout the country. But since the election of President Trump and his outright attack on anything related to "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" my speaking invitations, especially from Universities and Churches, have ground to a virtual halt. I have managed to maintain some semblance of a public speaking schedule but to do this I have had to resort to initiating smaller, individual events, covering much of my own travel, and asking organizations to host them at drastically reduced rates (at times, even speaking for free). The good news is, the public is still open, even eager, to wrestle with this content, even while institutions and organizations are less inclined to initiate, organize and pay for it.

I have already initiated two of these trips; one at the end of 2024 to Seattle and another, in March of 2025 to San Francisco. And I am departing for a third trip in early April to Detroit and Grand Rapids Michigan.

But I am unable to maintain a schedule like this on my own, so I am asking for your partnership. I have set up this GoFundMe so people who know me, have followed my work and believe in this message can have a practical way to help me create a more accurate Common Memory for our nation. The money raised will go first and foremost to cover my travel and other logistic and administrative expenses associated with this tour. And if funds are available, I will also use them to pay myself a modest honorarium per event.

Funds given to this GoFundMe are not tax deductible.

I will post regular updates and pictures to this GoFundMe about past events and provide details about upcoming events. I will also post audio and video recordings from events whenever possible.

Here are the details for the two upcoming events scheduled for April 2025:

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 @ 7 PM ET

Campus Chapel - University of Michigan

1236 Washtenaw Ct.

Ann Arbor, MI

Friday, April 11, 2025 @ 7 PM ET

Fountain Street Church

24 Fountain St. NE

Grand Rapids, MI

I am hoping to give more presentations in cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Denver, Atlanta, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Baltimore. I am also eager to receive other opportunities and invitations to bring these presentations to additional cities and communities around the country. And if you have access to, or know of, potential locations please feel free to reach out to me.

Ahe'hee'. Thank you for your interest in my work and for your ongoing partnership in building a healthier national community through the creation of a more accurate Common Memory.

Walk in Beauty my relatives. And may we all learn how to walk in beauty together.

Mark Charles