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Michael Patrick MacDonald

Author of "All Souls," Activist, Professor of Non-Fiction & Social Justice

Michael Patrick MacDonald
Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $20,000 - $30,000
Virtual Event: Please Contact
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Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Authors, College, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Government, Health, Inspirational, Journalism, Literary, Political
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Michael Patrick MacDonald Biography

Michael Patrick MacDonald grew up in the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston, a neighborhood that once held the highest concentration of white poverty in the United States. After experiencing the loss of four of his eleven siblings and witnessing the impact of poverty, crime, addiction, and incarceration on his community, he channeled his experiences into activism, organizing, and writing. MacDonald's work focuses on transforming personal and community trauma into proactive social change.

MacDonald is the author of the New York Times Bestselling memoir, "All Souls: A Family Story From Southie" and the acclaimed "Easter Rising: A Memoir of Roots and Rebellion." These two books, which address themes of family, survival, and resilience against socio-economic struggles, are frequently selected as First Year Experience reads at colleges and universities. He has been awarded an American Book Award, a New England Literary Lights Award, and a fellowship at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Study Center. MacDonald has also penned numerous essays and short stories, including "The Resurrection of Cornelius Larkin" and "An Immigrant’s Tale," written for the Dropkick Murphy’s theme album "Going Out in Style." He has contributed regular op-eds to The Boston Globe and has written articles addressing ongoing race and class issues in Greater Boston.

As an activist and community leader, MacDonald has been instrumental in initiating Boston's first-ever Gun Buyback programs and establishing local support groups for survivors of poverty, violence, and the drug trade. His involvement extends to serving on several local and national boards, including the Children’s Defense Fund’s Beat The Odds Essay Selection Committee, the Crittenton Women’s Union National Advisory Committee, and Families First of Greater Boston Advisory Board.

Michael Patrick MacDonald serves as Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University’s Honors Department, where he teaches "Non-Fiction Writing & Social Justice Issues" and "The North of Ireland: Conflict, Reconciliation, and a Lasting Peace with Justice" every fall. He also holds a Guest Lecturer position at California State University, Northridge, and at The University of Mannheim during the summer. MacDonald's academic contributions are complemented by his development of a community-based writing and healing curriculum, "Transforming Trauma: Finding Your Voice," used to assist women transitioning out of poverty in Boston.

Currently, MacDonald is working on his third book which explores generational trauma and addiction in Massachusetts communities, while also incorporating narrative non-fiction storytelling techniques. His storytelling ability not only conveys his extensive knowledge but also encourages audience engagement and community building.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/24/2024.

Michael Patrick MacDonald Speaking Topics

  • Cross-Cultural Community Building

  • Organizing to Reduce Violence & Drug Use

  • Our Common Ground: Race & the Unspoken Issue of Class in America

  • The Legacy of South Boston Crime Boss Whitey Bulger

  • Using Circle Process as a Technique for Creating the Space to Tell Our Stories (Workshop)

    In this workshop, Michael Patrick MacDonald provides specific answers to the following question: how do we allow our young people the space to find their voice • first, to find their voice to tell their story at their own pace, completely owning every step they take in that process, and then to find their voice in the world? Speaker Michael Patrick MacDonald says we must begin by listening, something he does with his Circle Process. Circle Process (literally "sitting in a circle") creates a space without hierarchy where we all feel listened to and where we lose separation, gain empathy for the other, and find company in our stories. It’s all about constructing our narratives, owning our narratives, and finding ways to connect with others through our stories and theirs. From MacDonald’s own experience and his observation of young people healing from past trauma, this has proven to be a powerful way forward in the aftermath of trauma.

  • Finding Your Voice: Helping Young People Transform Trauma into Leadership

    Michael Patrick MacDonald is the author of two best-selling coming-of-age memoirs: All Souls: A Family Story from Southie and Easter Rising: A Memoir of Roots and Rebellion. Both deal with the issues he experienced growing up in South Boston's Old Colony Housing Project, an area found to have the highest concentration of white poverty in America and some of Boston's highest death rates from substance abuse and its attendant violence (including suicide). Having lost four siblings to poverty, violence, and the drug trade, MacDonald has used his personal story to promote a conversation about trauma in the lives of young people and about the possibility for individual healing and community-wide change.

    Before becoming a full-time writer, MacDonald worked as a community organizer, helping to build coalitions to reduce substance abuse and street violence by promoting leadership from among those most impacted by the drug trade. "Finding Your Voice" uses stories from his own teen years to illustrate the impact of poverty and trauma (specifically violence and drug abuse) on young people and the transformative power of empathy and listening among service providers and therapists. This lecture strives to help youth workers and service providers:

Michael Patrick MacDonald Books

  • All Souls: A Family Story from Southie
    All Souls: A Family Story from Southie

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  • What topics does Michael Patrick MacDonald speak about?

    Michael Patrick MacDonald is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, College, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Government, Health, Inspirational, Journalism, Literary, Political.

  • Where does Michael Patrick MacDonald travel from?

    Michael Patrick MacDonald generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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Michael Patrick MacDonald is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Cross-Cultural Community Building, Organizing to Reduce Violence & Drug Use, Our Common Ground: Race & the Unspoken Issue of Class in America, The Legacy of South Boston Crime Boss Whitey Bulger, Using Circle Process as a Technique for Creating the Space to Tell Our Stories (Workshop) and Finding Your Voice: Helping Young People Transform Trauma into Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Michael Patrick MacDonald for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Michael Patrick MacDonald generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are John Zogby, Victoria Rowell, Juan Williams, Asra Nomani and Sonia Nazario. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Michael Patrick MacDonald for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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