Writing & Photography portfolio
Author.
50% of the author’s net proceeds from this paperback book will be donated to the Burmese people (link below). Donations will support non-violent protesters as they struggle to survive and restore their democracy after a February 2021 military coup, a tragic consequence of our own American president #45 announcing to the world (and to all aspiring dictators) that elections aren’t real and can be discarded. The book’s title is a dual reference to the evolution of my meditation practice over two decades and to the 20 years of house arrest endured by Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma. My hope is that this book will encourage international support for Burma’s National Unity Government (NUG) made up of deposed Democratic leaders elected in 2020 including Suu Kyi who are dedicated to a federal democracy with minority rights. Note: this book is not appropriate for minors.
Synopsis: When she was 23 years old, Ellen McCarty decided to face her fear of being alone and signed up for Buddhist warrior training in Southeast Asia (Burma). This story captures the myriad challenges she faced as she progressed from beginning to advanced mindfulness meditation practice at silent retreats in remote forest monasteries. This story is also about democracy and the beacon that America represents to millions of people around the world living under dictatorship. In Burma-Myanmar, decades of military dictatorship were overcome in 2007 by a non-violent protest movement led by Buddhist monks and nuns, known as the Saffron Revolution. Inner and outer liberation is the birthright of all human beings. May all people be free.
Photographer.
This book documents the founding of the non-profit organization Puente de la Costa Sur, which provides services and advocacy for migrant farm workers and their families on our California coast. The non-profit also promotes a Buy Local movement to support local farmers. I took these photos as a volunteer for Puente between 2002-2005 so that the migrant “men alone” could mail home photos to their families. Because migrant farm workers don’t have access to worker visas, they are only able to see their families by making life-endangering, illegal border crossings rather than simply traveling home safely after a harvest season. One of my photos was chosen for the cover photo of founder Rev. Taylor’s book. Each year, the most generous donors to Puente receive a free copy of my cover photograph, which captures the back-breaking work of migrant farm workers who put food on our tables. This book is available on Amazon and supports the ongoing funding of Puente’s programs.
App Content Developer.
For families with special needs youth living in remote areas without access to live mindfulness instruction (pre-Zoom), I wrote the content for this iOS app “Mindful Youth” which was published in 2015. Special thanks to app developer Andis Blukis and his team at Rhyme and Reason as well as the Entrepreneurs' Law Clinic at Santa Clara University for making this resource possible. After four years, Apple removed this app from its store in Jan. 2019 because it requires expensive updates. I am recreating some of my app content on my YouTube channel “Ms. Ellen McCarty, Mindful Youth,” recycling the wonderful cartoons created to express the energy of my mindfulness instruction by Latvian artist Janis Zalitis. He created the art for my logo and this website.
Writing & Publishing Instructor.
One of my students created this book in a summer writing program I taught in San Francisco. So proud of you Dorian! He’s on Goodreads too. Give him some stars.
Donate directly below.
Vipassana Hawai’i
This non-profit directly funds and resources the democracy movement in Burma-Myanmar in non-violent ways, including bringing food, medical supplies and temporary housing to protesters and their families. My 50% net book proceeds will be donated here, to the organization’s MettaDana Project.
Puente
This non-profit supports migrant farm workers on our California coast. Donate directly here.