Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Dave Lewis
Morning Star on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 303
15 minutes Posted May 11, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
Sponsor And Segment Setup
Meet Morningstar And Its Roots
The Surprise Relocation Across The Lot
What Peer Run Support Really Means
Safety First And A Sober Space
Kansas Support And Expansion To Junction City
Funding Model And Grant Writing Secrets
Stigma Shifts And Speaking Without Shame
The Recovery Conference And Pride
Where To Learn More And Wrap Up
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15:00
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Show notes
We talk with Morningstar executive director and co-founder Donja McDonald about building a peer-run mental health community where safety and dignity come first. We dig into why a sober environment matters, how funding works for a consumer-run organization in Kansas, and what real acceptance looks like when stigma starts to loosen. • relocating to a bigger space without increasing rent • defining Morningstar as peer support led by people with lived experience of severe mental illne...