Mara McCalmon & Phoebe Wall Howard - “The Sound of Safety”

Mara (Skinner) McCalmon has written a powerful memoir titled, "The Sound of Safety: When all that's left is love, hope and truth." The book, scheduled for release by Ice Cube Press in October, is not just the compelling story of a regular family in Yale, Michigan, shattered by a brutal crime. Mara shares in detail what life was like before, during and after events that made national headlines. And she reveals what's required to heal from trauma. 

The Port Huron Museums is honored to welcome Mara McCalmon & co-author Phoebe Wall Howard as the inaugural speakers in our very first Carnegie Lecture Series event. 

This program will include a lecture/discussion from Mara McCalmon followed by a book signing with herself and co-author, Phoebe Wall Howard.

Copies of “The Sound of Safety” will be available for purchase that evening! More information about the book can be found here: The Sound of Safety - Ice Cube Press 

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Mara (Skinner) McCalmon is a career educator and founder of the "P.S. You're my Hero" non-profit organization that supports victims of crime. She is a mom, sister, wife and grandma who survived a brutal stabbing in 2010 that made national headlines. Since then, she has found her voice to share her story and guide others to trauma recovery. She is asked to speak to groups and individuals that focus on mental health, criminal justice and victims rights. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Wayne State University in Detroit and a master's degree in the art of teaching from Marygrove College in Detroit. She may be found walking her dogs Niko and Shelby on the beach.  

Phoebe Wall Howard is a national award-winning reporter who writes about business, US/Canadian politics and competitive sailing. She is a contributing car culture columnist at The Detroit News (USA Today Network). Her "Shifting Gears" column on Substack was honored in 2026 by the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit for breaking news, enterprise, automotive and courts/watchdog reporting.