Generosity of Spirit
Myths and Folktales
Myths and Folktales

Over a year-and-a-half time span, Fetzer Institute team members Megan Scribner and Mark Nepo conducted interviews with several “generous spirits” to discuss their thoughts on giving, receiving and generosity from a variety of unique backgrounds and viewpoints.
These interviews provide thoughtful insight into the rewards and challenges of living a generous life.
(Note: Interview transcripts have been edited for use in print.)
"Generous Spirit" Interviews- Claney, Anita
Anita Claney is the Executive Director of Alternatives in Housing, Inc. (AIH) which recently completed a two-year study of the housing personal assistance needs of persons living with disabilities in the City of Tucson, Arizona. Combining experience as an Interior Designer with years of volunteer work with persons living with physical disabilities, Ms. Claney has written a thesis that applies a value-centered architectural programming model to environments for persons living with physical disabilities.
- Fullerton, Reese and Anne
Reese Fullerton is the Director of the Office of Workforce Training and Development for the state of New Mexico. An attorney, mediator and facilitator, Reese has spent many years facilitating discussions in public disputes about water and other natural resources, education and human rights in local, state, regional, national and international settings.
Anne Fullerton is a counselor for children and has been an active member of the not-for-profit community in Sante Fe, New Mexico. She has founded and directed organizations which provide funds to individuals throughout the community for: engaging students in volunteer activities, creating student-written articles for local newspapers, and providing volunteers and other support for elementary schools in economically-stressed areas of town. Anne also works with other nonprofit groups to make Sante Fe a more compassionate place to live. - Gibbs, Charles
The Rev. Canon Charles Gibbs serves as Executive Director of United Religions Initiative (www.uri.org). The purpose of this global grassroots network is to promote enduring, daily, interfaith cooperation to end religiously-motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
- Harbour, Pat
Patricia Moore Harbour is founder of Healing the Heart of Diversity®, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing diversity leadership education, coaching and training strategies which sustain social change. She was the Director of Applied Social Science at the BDM International Corporation and has also served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and to the U.S. Commissioner of Education. She was also the President of the Center for Quality Education in San Rafael, California, a Founding Fellow and Program Director of the Fetzer Institute and an Associate of the Charles Kettering Foundation.
- Hegedus, Carol and Peat, David
Carol Hegedus is a former Program Director of the Fetzer Institute. She is the author of John E. Fetzer: Stories of One Man's Search (Fetzer Institute, 2004) and resides in Tucson, Arizona.
David Peat carried out research in theoretical physics at the National Research Council of Canada and collaborated with David Bohm. He has initiated dialogue circles with Native American elders and Western scientists, and between artists and scientists. In 1996 he left Canada for the medieval hilltop village of Pari in Tuscany where he founded the Pari Center for New Learning. See www.fdavidpeat.com and www.paricenter.com. - Lopez, Juan
Juan T. Lopez is co-founder of Amistad Associates (www.amistadassociates.com), a consulting firm which provides organizational development, team building, leadership, customer service, sexual harassment and managing diversity. Lopez is also founder and principal with the Center for Reinventing Government and co-founder of Diversity 2000, a national think tank that focuses on compelling diversity issues, and publishes innovative ideas and programs. For three years, Mr. Lopez was the co-chair of the National Diversity Conference, a premier national event for addressing diversity issues. He also participates in a number of local think tanks that meet to develop diversity concepts and leadership models.
- Palmer, Parker
Parker J. Palmer is the author of seven books, including A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak and The Courage to Teach.
- Ullman, Jade
Jade Netanya Ullman has been a leader in young donor organizing, activism and spiritual healing. She has been active with the Threshold Foundation, Resource Generation and the Young Donor Organizing Alliance.
- Whelshula, Martina
Dr. Martina Whelshula is a member of the Arrow Lakes Nation of the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State and currently works with the Colville Tribe’s Language Preservation Program as Language Specialist, teaches undergraduate courses at Gonzaga University, and consults in a variety of disciplines.
- Yeldell, Florida
Florida Jackson Yeldell, age 90, is a lifelong educator and civil rights leader who continues to read avidly and teach history courses in her active retirement.