自我介绍

For 35 years I was serving the world as a community organizer, artist, expressive arts facilitator, and traveler and then in for 20 years lived in a very large, beautiful home near Nashville with plenty of space for welcoming the world at the Morningstar House, before moving back to my hometown in southern Tennessee. I have a passion for community building across lines of race, class, and culture and have found work on the boards and staff of many church and community non-profit organizations, locally, regionally and internationally. I am the oldest grandchild in a large farm family in Southern Tennessee and learned the fine art of hospitality from my ancestors, especially warm-hearted grandmothers and great-grandmothers. There was a great synergy and sustainability in the collective, cooperative work of my large family, and in the 15 years I lived in the "city" I brought this ethic and value to my life in community there. After 10 years of leadership in the forms of InterPlay, we formed and were practicing with MorningStar Community Arts, linking arts and social transformation, writing, and performing. I've written poetry all along the journey and am currently publishing an extensive audio collection with a title something like: Radical Hospitality: Grief, Grace and Grits. I love to travel and have been to Morocco several times to stay with extended family there. Hawaii and Australia are favorites, too. I have 3 teenage grandchildren who grew up in the “red house” next to my “blue house” and now both houses are fully open for sharing extended stays with long term residents. The houses are equipped for children of every age with art supplies, books, music, games, movies, etc. I always loved hosting house concerts, circle gatherings, and potlucks in my home and am enjoying taking this longtime practice of hosting friends and family in my home to a new level with airbnb and other networks by hosting strangers that very often become friends. Since mid 2015, we made the shift at the Morningstar House to host guests for a 30 day minimum stay, so there's more continuity and just 3-4 guests sharing this huge home at any time. I spent 20 years traveling the world with my cultural work and my favorite way to visit any city is by doing a creative homestay with hosts that were sometimes friends, and sometimes friends of friends. It's such a sweet way to come to know a city by having a safe, friendly, homey landing place. So that's what I want to offer now. The spirit of hospitality comes naturally and easy to me. My family used to say "I never met a stranger" I really enjoy people in all their variety and would be happy to provide you a good balance of quiet and private time, and also friendly, helpful support as you encounter Nashville. The new owner of my daughters “red house” Marquetta Dupree will be starting to offer expressive arts facilitation and support to guests interested in that, and possibly even collaborate with guests to create concerts, workshops and other events in the PlayRoom which holds about 55 people for a concert, and 30 for workshops. For an affordable and hospitable way to live for your time in Nashville come and be a part of this community. life motto: "Sometimes you just have to take a leap and build your wings on the way down".. See website at Morningstar Arts dot net.