Michael Patrick MacDonald is the author of the acclaimed bestsellers, All Souls: A Family Story From Southie and Easter Rising: A Memoir of Roots and Rebellion. 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 written a number of essays and short stories, including "The Resurrection of Cornelius Larkin," an immigrant's tale written for the Dropkick Murphy's theme album: "Going Out In Style." He has recently completed the screenplay for All Souls and is working on his third non fiction book. As an activist he has focused efforts on multi-cultural coalition building to reduce violence, and on promoting grassroots leadership from the community. He founded Gun Buyback programs & local support groups which gave voice to adult and youth survivors of poverty, violence, and the drug trade. As a Public Speaker he addresses: "The Legacy of South Boston Crime Boss Whitey Bulger;" "Our Common Ground: Race & the Unspoken Issue of Class in America;" "Community Organizing to Reduce Violence and Substance Abuse;" "Giving Back: Transforming Community Difficulties into Opportunities for Leadership Development" and "Finding Your Voice: Helping Young People to Transform Trauma into Leadership." MIchael Patrick MacDonald currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is Author-in-Residence at Northeastern University's Honors Program, where he teaches his curriculums: "Writing & Social Justice Issues" and "Conflict & Reconciliation."Photographer Photo Credit Name: Christine Elise McCarthy, 2007.