People

November 2005

Bargain Hunter with a Mission

On any given day, one might see Maryland ’s Johnnie Mae Armstrong combing flea markets and discount stores for bargains on chairs, beds, and other home furnishings.

They’re not for herself—Armstrong is on the board of directors of a nonprofit organization in Montgomery County, Maryland, that provides neighborhood housing for people recovering from mental illness. The treasures she buys end up in the 21 houses purchased and renovated by her group, which currently serves 75 county residents.

Armstrong first started helping people with mental and learning disabilities during her 34 years as an elementary teacher. “The beginning and end of my career reflect the two poles of society’s approach to people with mental illness,” she says. “My first year, I saw all the kids with emotional problems drawn out of mainstream classrooms and grouped in isolation. By the time I retired, educators had learned these kids could be integrated into regular classes. It was often difficult, but I saw many succeed.”

Armstrong’s interest became more personal when she learned one of her relatives was struggling to recover from a mental illness.

“Publicly funded help was sorely lacking,” says Armstrong. “The first time I saw people sleeping on grates in Washington, DC, it brought tears to my eyes, and I realized that I needed to help.”

She’s been doing that for eight years. “No one should ever sell a person in recovery from mental illness short,” says Armstrong. “Our residents work as cashiers and as drivers. They’re going to college. They flourish when given the opportunity.”

—Matt Simon 

Globetrotter

Every June, the country town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, opens its arms to visitors from around the globe in a celebration of culture and music. Nearly 6,000 people attend the International Folkfest, and it’s all due to retired educator Steve Cates.

Cates started with an appreciation for his own town’s cultural tradition. To introduce the ways of the past to new generations, he founded the Cripple Creek Cloggers dance troupe in 1967, with colorful costumes and fast fiddling reminiscent of the barn-raising parties of the early 1800s. With the Cloggers, Cates has attended more than 100 folk festivals in nations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

Exploring cobblestoned villages in Austria and performing in Puerto Rico, Cates developed an insatiable thirst for travel. And he’s done his share of hosting travelers from abroad. The week-long celebration in Murfreesboro began in 1982 and is still going strong. This year, Cates welcomed troupes from Peru, Jordan, and England.

This is more than a mere hobby. During his 40-year career, Cates frequently used his travel and research in his work. “Teaching social sciences, I was able to talk about the places I have been and people I have met,” he says. “The worst sort of teacher is one who has no life experience to add to the classroom.”

—Daniel Moise