Nursing senior Tess Carichner, originally from Saline, devotes significant time and energy to promoting peace. As the recipient of the Veterans for Peace (VFP) Scholarship Award — and a featured speaker at the Ark Peace Concert — Carichner demonstrates that the pursuit of peace extends from our educational choices to our everyday actions.
Carichner believes that peace is woven into the fabric of daily life, whether it’s the career path we choose, how we spend our free time or even how we spend our money.
Peace as a way of life
“I chose to study nursing because it allows me to help people in need of medical care,” Carichner said. “However, nursing also has the element of social justice and a focus on promoting health equity and overall wellbeing. In my free time, I connect with my community through student organizations, civic engagement, mutual aid efforts or volunteering.”
Outside of her academic studies, she furthers peace through community projects.
“In my local co-op housing organization, I organize sustainable art markets to raise money for local organizations like Ozone House and Disability Network, but also for international aid organizations that provide medical care to those living through dangerous conflicts,” Carichner said.
She is also mindful of how she spends her money.
“I am mindful of how I spend my resources, whether that is my time, money or skills,” Carichner said. “I started thrifting clothes in middle school because I realized the environmental benefits. As I gained more knowledge about companies that profit from war, I now approach second-hand consumption knowing that money spent at a local thrift shop is likely going to public schools, accessible/accommodating jobs or other community-focused initiatives.”
Family connection to veterans
Carichner’s receipt of the Veterans for Peace award is especially significant given her personal ties to the veteran community.
“Each week my grandpa would drive me to piano class and stop in the American Legion to buy a lotto ticket,” Carichner said. “He is a veteran himself, and has devoted his life to serving his church, community and family. We took part in Legion fundraising efforts together like Poppy Days and sourcing pop can tabs. He encouraged me to serve at Legion Sauerkraut suppers and participate in Memorial Day parades. As I became older, I learned that veterans may face challenges after service, such as getting jobs, dealing with mental health challenges and assimilating back into society. Because of this, I am very respectful of this population and interested in promoting healthcare and wellbeing after service.”
Her introduction to the work of Veterans for Peace came about one year ago when, while walking past their tent at an art fair, she began a conversation with the local VFP leader, Bill Shea.
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“I told him (Shea) I appreciated his organization’s work, and that I was at the Ann Arbor VA for part of my disability health internship at MDisability,” Carichner said. “I shadowed in the VA employee health clinic, where I learned that half of the employees of the VA must be veterans. Because many veterans have disabilities after service, the VA is proactive about accommodations, which is exciting as someone who studies accessible healthcare. Bill told me about the values of VFP and some of their events, including a concert at the Ark.”
At The Ark, during the annual Peace Concert originally held on John Lennon’s birthday to raise money for peace-dedicated scholarships, their conversation deepened.
“I mentioned that I was a part of my local American Legion Auxiliary,” Carichner said. “We talked about the work of the Ann Arbor Fisher house, which I had been involved with by making cards and donating magazines. He asked about my interest in veterans’ health, and handed me a scholarship flyer. I went home and learned more about Veterans for Peace on their website. I admired how they connected pro-peace work with so many other important movements, like environmentalism and anti-racism.”
Fisher House is a nonprofit organization which provides comfortable homes, where military and their families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital.
Carichner is currently a senior in the honors program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, majoring in nursing with minors in Disability Studies and Global Health.
“I specifically requested the VA for my final clinical placement,” Carichner said. “I am honored to work with and serve many veterans in this role. I am also a researcher and disability health equity advocate. Some of my past work has examined the role of ableism in patient-provider interactions, inclusion of multiple marginalized deaf people in intimate partner violence research, accessible OB/GYN care for people with disabilities and inclusion of students with disabilities in American nursing schools.”
Veterans For Peace Concert
Carichner’s involvement at theVeterans For Peace Concert furthered her connection with the VFP community.
“I was honored when VFP invited me to give an opening speech,” Carichner said. “They were so welcoming and kind. I opened by thanking VFP and introducing myself. I spoke about the way VFP highlights the humanity and souls of all people around the globe. VFP also talks about the true costs of militarism in complex and powerful ways.
She has also learned about the value of VFP and how their work connects to her own work.
“They (VFP) use their positionality as veterans to speak candidly about how war impacts people long term, both service people and those living in war-torn areas,” Carichner said. “They dream of a future where we are quick to protect the rights of others and slow to enact violence on the land, people and cultures of the world. In a way, they are pushing for a worldwide version of what I hope to give to my patients, the best chance at fulfilling their full potential.”
She sees the efforts of VFP and her own work as part of a broader vision for peace — both in America and around the globe.
“How powerful would we be, in the currencies of peace and community, if our tax dollars were used to promote health, education and housing?” Carichner asked. “I cannot ignore the harsh reality that many nurses and patients face around the world as hospitals are bombed, people with disabilities cannot evacuate their homes in time for climate-change exacerbated natural disasters, and that I pass unhoused neighbors on my walk to class on cold mornings. VFP is not afraid of confronting the status quo, which I think is very brave.”
At the concert, she also shared a moving meditation on peace.
“I also shared part of a hymn that I remember singing with the congregants at my grandparents’ church,” Carichner said. “There is a beautiful cover online done by Sinead O’Connor. It goes:
“Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness ever joy…”
This selection is from the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.
How everyone can work for Peace
Carichner offers practical advice for anyone wishing to promote peace.
“If there is one thing you can do, it is to show up,” Carichner said. “Show up to learn, to donate your time/skills and to find others who dare to assert that a better future is possible.”
She also encourages open, respectful dialogue about peace.
“One way that I find most engaging to promote peace is by having conversations with the people who love or trust you,” Carichner said. “Everyone has influence in some area. Even if you might disagree on some things, you have the benefit of being loved and given the chance to share perspective. One of the easiest ways to promote peace is to spend your money in mindful ways. This is a way to care for both the protection of peace and for the environment…Civic engagement is crucial. Vote.”
Her inspiration comes from diverse movements that advocate for justice.
“I am very motivated and inspired by the Disability Justice movement,” Carichner said. “This movement was created by Sins Invalid, a queer, BIPOC, disabled-led performance group in San Francisco. I recommend reading more about their ten principles, which all aim to unite people for the common pursuit of justice.”
She also shared practical actions that individuals can take in their daily lives.
“For example, whenever I can, I buy from small businesses or companies that do not profit off of wars or arms development,” Carichner said. “This can be difficult as the world becomes more globalized and large corporations own many brands. If I need to buy something new, I try to ask myself if I really need this. The best way to go around this is by thrifting, mending and trading.”
Aligning with groups that oppose militarism, and champion environmental protection is another key strategy.
“I am a member of the local Inter Co-operative Council of Ann Arbor, which provides off-campus housing to students interested in social justice and various house themes,” Carichner said. “Two of the three homes I have lived in, Vail House and Debs House, have been sustainability focused. Your network is a way to share ideas and opportunities to imagine a more peaceful future. Out of these conversations may come ideas, like the co-op art markets that have been happening over the past couple of years.”
Carichner explained that these co-op art markets feature both student and local art, produced in slower, more sustainable ways.
“People selling at the markets, depending on the theme, commit to donating a certain percentage of their profits to peace building organizations that provide services such as housing, aid to refugees or healthcare,” she said.
Carichner’s commitment to peace and social justice helps to strengthen her community and inspires others to take meaningful steps toward creating a more compassionate world.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
