Profile Internationally touring songwriter, recording artist, poet, teacher, and mental health advocate. Independently released five albums on own label, LRH Music, and three on folk label Red House Records. Featured speaker and workshop leader on mental health issues at universities, hospitals, and conferences nationwide. Certified yoga and meditation instructor. Documentary filmmaker (Pack Up Your Sorrows - a feature length documentary about mental wellness, creativity, and recovery). Dean’s Fellow and candidate for M.Div. 2018 (Interfaith Chaplaincy) Boston University School of Theology.

Skills Comfortable speaking and performing in front of large audiences. Ability to articulate personal experiences with Bipolar Disorder and describe effective methods for recovery. Experience teaching songwriting, meditation, and poetry to students of all ages and skill levels. Understanding of core principles of Tibetan Buddhism and ability to describe the value of meditative practices to people of all faiths. Experience providing interfaith spiritual care for diverse population in urban hospital setting. Special interest in the role that spirituality and creativity play in treating mental illness.

Music Founder/Director, LRH Music and Productions 1998 - Present Launched independent music production company in order to release and promote five albums of original music.

Red House Records Recording Artist; St Paul, MN 2007 - Present Signed with folk label Red House Records in 2007. Released three albums: Come Up Full in 2008 - The Living Side in 2010 - Beyond That in 2013

Co-founder, Winterbloom 2009 - Present Launched the band “Winterbloom” with fellow songwriters Antje Duvekot, Natalia Zukerman and Anne Heaton - 2009. Released an album of interfaith holiday music Winterbloom: Traditions Rearranged on independent music company Market Monkeys - November 2009

contactmeghutchinson@gmail.com www.meghutchinson.com

Meg Hutchinson

Mental Health Work

Active Minds Speakers Bureau Member April 2014 - present http://activeminds.org/our-programming/active-minds-speakers-bureau

Documentary filmmaker (Pack Up Your Sorrows: A Story of Illness, Hope & Transformation). Co-writer, assistant producer, and narrator. An Ezzie Films/Bluestar Media production 2015. http://www.packupyoursorrowsfilm.com/

Featured Speaking Engagements

The Hadley Fund: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and discussion. West Chester University; West Chester, PA. - November 2016

I Am Strong Foundation: “How We Got Through: A Conversation Between Sisters About Mental Illness and Recovery” with co-speaker Tess Adams Norwood, MA. - October 2016

NAMI New Hampshire: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and panel discussion. Concord, NH. - October 2016

Winchendon School: Guest speaker/performer for students and staff. Winchendon, MA. - May 2016

Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and discussion. Worcester, MA. - May 2016

Wayside Youth and Family Support Network: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and discussion. Watertown, MA. - May 2016

NAMI North Shore & Salem State School of Social Work: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and panel discussion at the Peabody Essex Museum. Peabody, MA. - April 2016

Teenage Anxiety & Depression Solutions: “Brighter Days 2.0 - Singing My Way Through.” Groton, MA. - February 2016

Fellowship Health Resources, Inc.: Speaker/performer at 40th Anniversary Celebration, Providence, RI. - November 2015

University of Rochester: “Moving Beyond That: Illness As An Opportunity For Transformation.” Rochester, NY. - November 2015

NAMI MN: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and discussion. St Paul, MN. November, 2015

NAMI Central Middlesex MA: Pack Up Your Sorrows film screening and discussion. Lexington, MA. - November, 2015

Mental Health Connecticut:“Art of Wellbeing— Engaging Young adults in Hope and Recovery.” Uncasville, CT. - October 2015

The Shine Initiative: 3rd Annual Health and Wellness Forum keynote speaker. Leominster, MA. - October 2015 10th Anniversary Gala; speaker/performer Worcester, MA - October 2014

Larned State Hospital: Annual Mental Health Conference keynote speaker, Larned, KS. - August 2015

contactmeghutchinson@gmail.com www.meghutchinson.com

University of California Santa Barbara: “Open Mind—A Night of Healing, Expression and Unity.” Santa Barbara, CA. - May 2015

Warren-Washington Association for Mental Health: Conference keynote speaker. Hudson Falls, NY. - May 2015

Leominster Public Schools: “The Social and Emotional Challenges of Middle School.” Leominster, MA. - April 2015

University of Hartford: “Illness as an Opportunity for Transformation.” West Hartford, CT. - March 2015

Merrimack College: Faculty & Staff mental health symposium panel speaker & evening guest lecturer for students. North Andover, MA - March 2015

McKnight Foundation: Pack up Your Sorrows film preview screening/discussion and music performance. Minneapolis, MN. - February 2015

Central Michigan University: “Moving Beyond That: Illness as an Opportunity for Transformation.” Mt Pleasant, MI. - November 2014

NAMI 13th Annual Jessica Henderson Memorial Lecture Series: Featured speaker/performer. Rochester, NY. - October 2014

Genesis Club, Inc: Featured speaker/performer at Building Dreams Gala, Worcester, MA. - 2010 & 2014 Keynote speaker/performer 17th Clubhouse International Seminar. St. Louis, MO. - October 2013

George Mason University: “Singing My Way Through: Creativity as a Method of Healing.” Fairfax, VA. - April 2014

Bridging the Divide Suicide Prevention Summit: breakout session leader/performer. Denver, CO - May 2014.

Carson J. Spencer Foundation: Speaker/performer -Denver, CO. - May 2014.

Smith College: “How We Got Through: A Conversation Between Sisters about Mental Illness and Recovery” co-speaker with Tess Adams. Northampton, MA. - March 2014 “Singing My Way Through: Creativity as a Method of Healing.” - April 2012

Active Minds 10th Annual National Conference: Closing keynote speaker at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. - November 2013

Macalester College: SPEAK! Lecture Series. St. Paul. - September 2013. Lives of Commitment & Allies Project Training for students and staff. St Paul, MN. - November 2011. Jordan Matthew Porco Foundation: Fresh Check Day speaker/performer -New London, CT. - September 2013 Durango, CO. - September 2012

Public Sector Psychiatry Conference U-Mass Medical School: Closing keynote speaker. Worcester, MA. - June 2012

Active Minds 8th Annual National Conference: Keynote speaker/performer. College Park, MD - November 2011

Send Silence Packing: performer/speaker at suicide awareness traveling exhibit. Boston, MA. - May 2011

contactmeghutchinson@gmail.com www.meghutchinson.com

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine: Featured speaker at the 26th Annual Mood Disorders Research/Education Symposium. Baltimore, MD. - April 2012 Guest artist at “Psychiatry and Arts” series. Baltimore, MD. - March 2011

Mental Health Education Project: 11th Annual Conference “See Us Now - Creating Harmony In Our Lives” keynote speaker. Minneapolis, MN - November 2011

Teaching Experience Niteo Program - Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation: “Training the Mind & Changing the Brain- Methods of Transformation.”Boston University; Boston, MA. - November 2015 & March 2016

Fellowship Health Resources: “Creative Writing as Healing - Tools for Transforming Difficult Times.” Harbor House; Lincoln, RI. - November 2015 Raw Artworks: “Training the Mind & Changing the Brain – A First Aid Kit for Managing Stress and Anxiety.”Lynn, MA. - August 2015 “Yoga and Creative Expression - How Movement and Imagination Can Free Us.” Lynn, MA. - April 2015 Broomfield Cultural Affairs Enlightenment Journey Series: “Training the Mind & Changing the Brain- Methods of Transformation.” Broomfield, CO. - June 2015 Berkshire School: “The Science of Mindfulness & Meditation and the Tools to Begin Practicing: A First Aid Kit.” Sheffield, MA. - May 2015 Bartol & Scattergood Foundations: “Creativity as Medicine - Tools for Surviving Difficult Times.” Philadelphia, PA. - October 2014

Berklee School of Music: Guest artist Berklee Five Week Program. Boston, MA. - July 2014

Bridging the Divide Summit: “Healing from Within - Methods for Deep Recovery.” Denver, CO. - May 2014

Summer Young Writers Workshops: Annual guest artist/teacher. Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Gt. Barrington, MA. 2007 - 2015 . Genesis Club: “Writing By Heart - Methods for Healing through Recovering Creative Voice.” Worcester, MA. - April 2013

Big Top Chautauqua: Songwriting instructor. Bayfield, WI. - August 2012

Passim School of Music: Songwriter instructor. Cambridge, MA. - April 2012

Peabody Library: Young adult poetry/songwriting workshop. Peabody, MA. - March 2012

8th Annual Active Minds National Conference: Workshop leader. College Park, MD - November 2011.

Arlington Library: Young adult writing workshop. Arlington, MA. - May 2011

Eagle Hill School: Guest teacher. Hardwick, MA. - November 2010 Beaver Country Day School: Guest teacher. Chestnut Hill, MA. - November 2010

contactmeghutchinson@gmail.com www.meghutchinson.com

Americana Song Academy: Songwriting instructor. Sisters, OR. - September 2007

Education and Training Boston University School of Theology; Boston, MA. Dean’s Fellow. Candidate for Master of Divinity degree 2018. (Interfaith Chaplaincy)

Brigham & Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA. June - August 2016. Clinical Pastoral Education Summer Intensive Unit.

Sakya Institute for Buddhist Studies; Cambridge, MA 2009 - Present Studying under the guidance of Khenpo Lama Migmar Tseten, Spiritual Director and Harvard Buddhist Chaplain.

Mangalamkosha Publications; Cambridge, MA 2012 - 2017 Assisted Lama Migmar in editing and release of six books.

200 hour Pranavayu Yoga Teacher Training; Boston, MA - 2012 Trained with Pranavayu Founder/Master teacher David Magone.

Lam Dre - Tsechen Kunchab Ling; Walden, NY May 31st - July 1st 2011 Received the full transmission of the Lam Dre cycle of teachings from His Holiness the Sakya Trizin.

Bard College at Simon’s Rock; Great Barrington, MA - B.A. Creative Writing/Music - 2000 Magna cum laude.

Publications

“The Meaning of Life” poem published in Anchor Magazine Issue 5. 2016.

“Seeing Stars,” two part essay published in OC87 Recovery Diaries August 2016.

Foreword to Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair by Kevin Briggs with Sam Mellinger. Ascend Books, 2015.

“I Did Not Lose My Mind,” essay published in Shambhala Sun Magazine - May 2014.

“Night Hike” and “On Losing A Dog” published in North Dakota Quarterly - Spring 2014.

“Don’t Wait” published in A Ritual To Read Together: poems in conversation with William Stafford. Woodley Press - 2013.

“I Did Not Lose My Mind but My Brain Had Stopped Working,” essay published in medical journal Psychiatric Services - Feb 2013 Vol. 64 No. 2

The Morning I Was Born: a month in poems. - Self Published LRH Music & Books - 2012.

contactmeghutchinson@gmail.com www.meghutchinson.com

Awards/Honors 2015 Jessica Henderson Spirit Award for Mental Health Advocacy; National Alliance on Mental Illness, Rochester, NY. 2010 Best Lyrics Award, Indie Acoustic Music Project. 2010 Winterbloom wins Boston Lilith Fair competition 2008 Best Female Songwriter Award, Indie Acoustic Music Project 2006 CMEAS tour contest winner, London, UK. 2005 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, WV. 2005 Karma Productions/Milestone Management tour contest winner, Dublin, Ireland. 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival “Most Wanted Artist,” NY. 2001 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Competition, CO. 2000 Kerrville New Folk Award, TX. 2000 Telluride Troubadours Songwriting Contest, CO. 2000 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, NC. 2000 Against The Grey Nominated for a Boston Music Award

contactmeghutchinson@gmail.com www.meghutchinson.com