I Am You: Stories of Resilience, Courage, and Power

By Stone Belt Press

Bryson shares his struggle with depression as a transgender man. Jessica tells how she deals with violence by being kind and having pity for her bully. Jeff explains how he stood up for himself and fought back against a bully. Jacob reveals his struggles with self-mutilation after a lifetime of bullying. These are just a few stories of resilienc

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stone Belt Press
• Release date: Feb 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9780998945620

Book preview

I AM YOU

Stories of Resilience, Courage, and Power

Edited by Linda Margison

Stone Belt Press | Bloomington, Indiana

Copyright 2018 by Linda Margison

I AM YOU: STORIES OF RESILIENCE, COURAGE, AND POWER

Published in the United States by Stone Belt Press

2815 East Tenth Street

Bloomington, IN 47408

www.stonebeltpress.org

ISBN 978-0-9989456-1-3

ISBN 978-0-9989456-2-0 (e-book)

For more information and to purchase copies of the book:

Stone Belt Arc

2815 East Tenth Street

Bloomington, IN 47408

www.stonebelt.org

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Cover art by Karen Holtzclaw and Stone Belt Artists

Cover photography by Rodney Margison

Cover design by Linda Margison

For self-advocates everywhere

When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate

Contents

Introduction: I Am You

It’s Not About Me: Finding Power in Weakness

Moving Forward: LIVING and Inclusion

Bryson Wrightsman: I Am Me

Jeff Stillions: Fighting Back

Julia Adams: With a Smile and a Song

Tommy Cunningham: Learning to Control Anger

Amber Teulker: Dream Job Achieved

Thomas Phillips: The Road to Independence

Anna Harner: My Life

Jacob Johns: From Pain to Beauty

Carla Mann: Little Lost Monkey

Nick Parsley: Serving Others

Marylin Chitwood: Remembering Love

Jessica Walker: Let It Go

A Look Back: The History of Stone Belt

Introduction:

I Am You

Stone Belt began in 1959, making it the oldest and largest agency of its kind in south-central Indiana, offering educational, residential, employment support, and clinical and health services for more than 1,600 clients in Monroe, Lawrence, Bartholomew and surrounding counties. Stone Belt’s mission, in partnership with the community, is to prepare, empower, and support people with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the life of the community.

To give a voice to the voiceless, Stone Belt launched its first I Am You stage production in 2008. This concept grew from recreational therapy student Michelle Davenport’s desire to document and preserve the stories of people with disabilities. Along with Amy Jackson, the development director at that time, Michelle believed the stories of inspiration, courage, and resilience could be brought to stage as a powerful testament to the performers’ courage and strength. Using the Bloomington Playwrights Project’s professional stage created a high-quality production value and gave audience members an intimate way to experience the lives of people with disabilities.

The production has had seven directors throughout the years and has used various formats—monologues, interviews, vignettes, songs, and skits, but always stayed true to the concept of supporting people to tell their personal stories and let the audience see them for their struggles, gifts, and talents. The productions exemplify the universal truth and Stone Belt core belief that all people have dignity, worth, and the right to self-determination.

As people prepared their presentations for the 2018 show, a common theme surfaced—bullying. Each of the performers agreed to have their stories compiled into this book. They include Jacob Johns, Jeff Stillions, Bryson Wrightsman, Marylin Chitwood, Anna Harner, Julia Adams, Jessica Walker, Tommy Cunningham, Nick Parsley, Thomas Phillips, Amber Teulker, and Carla Mann. Many thanks to each of these performers for spending time with me as I asked them probing questions that weren’t always easy to answer, but were approached with courage and honesty and patience. Thanks also to Tommy’s mom, Katie Floerke, for taking time out of her busy day to be interviewed for Tommy’s story.

Just as important are the staff members that scheduled appointments, made travel arrangements, sat in on the interviews, and answered their own questions. Thanks to Eric Ford, Tyler Frazee, Jonathan Hyde, Tiba Walter, and Loretta Patterson. I am also grateful to countless other staff, coordinators, and supervisors who pointed me in the right direction on too many occasions.

Creating this representation of the performers’ stories wouldn’t have been possible without the artwork created by art instructor Karen Holtzclaw and her students. This illustration appropriately depicts something beautiful blooming from a stark and sturdy tree.

Rodney Margison photographed the cover artwork and the captivating portraits in this book. He also volunteered his time to copyedit all of the stories and offer advice on structure and style. Thanks, Rodney, for always having my back.

When the deadline looked like a fast-approaching locomotive, I sought help from the amazing writing talents of Leslie Green, Catherine Gray, Tiba Walter, and Tyler Frazee. I will forever be grateful for their willingness to jump in and offer their voices to this book.

Thanks to the second half of the Excitement Team, Adam Hamel, who stepped up for a last-minute read and an ear as I spun off in a panic. I am grateful that you’re always willing to jump in and help when I’m in over my head.

Special thanks again to Leslie Green, Stone Belt’s chief executive officer, who has given me the freedom to pursue exciting ventures about which I’m passionate. We have a lot of ideas and you offer an equal amount of support and excitement to see them come to fruition. Thank you for your support, your patience, and your willingness to give me a chance. You are the best.

Finally, I want to thank Stone Belt’s executive team, program directors, and board of directors for dedicating your days and nights to people with developmental