October 3, 2016

Cultivating Community
Profile: Greta Belanger DeJong
Greta was born in Neenah,
Wisconsin. Her writing career
started at the humble age of 8,
by writing Nancy Drewisque
stories with her friends. Greta
then started a school newspaper
in 7th grade. After graduating
from the University of
Wisconsin, Greta began writing
at Country Side Magazine, in
Madison, WI. She then moved to
Salt Lake City in 1979; and
started working on Catalyst
Magazine in 1981. The first issue
of Catalyst debuted in April,
1982.

Upon arriving at the headquarters of Catalyst Magazine to

interview their editor Greta Belanger DeJong, I was immediately
swooned by the quaint residence with the striking pink exterior. A
sign hung humbly on the porch saying Catalyst. The interior of
this home felt as though I had stumbled into someone`s dream.
Colors of every shade adorned the walls and objects within, and
eclectic items were dispersed everywhere; from faces of religious
deities to ethereal stones. The invitation of the this environment
had a calming aect in which one could spend hours examining all
the items within. Ascending to the upper tier of the housewhere
Greta`s oce resided I was again transported into another
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intimate spectacle of colors and trinkets that provoked a calm

wonder within me. A sleepy cat laid tranquilly upon the couch
while natural light flowed through the dense forest of plants
creating a realm of personal balance. I kept thinking about how I
wished this was my home. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was
actually in Greta`s home. The lower level was where the operations
of Catalyst took place, and upper level was her loft and oce. The
fluidity of these spaces with one another symbolizes the life of
Greta. Writing for her is just like grabbing something out of your
refrigerator, or watering your plants; natural.

Greta founded Catalyst in 1982 when she was just 29 years

old. Since then the magazine has organically grown up the
scaolding of time, presenting forward thinking ideas to those who
have been lucky enough to find it. This blossoming has been a long
I just want people to be
Catalysts in their own lives.

time coming, ever since Greta began writing Nancy Drewisque

stories with her friends in elementary school. When asked about
writing Greta replied, Its something I've always done. One could see
evidence to this by the piles of boxes in her oce, containing all of
her writings over the years. I always knew I would be a writer and
editor. This clairvoyance speaks volumes of Greta`s journey.
Her stable understanding of her passions provided the
foundation for Greta to experience whatever peaked her curiosity;
climbing the branches of wonder to pick whatever she wanted
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from the tree of life. Having this assurance allowed for Greta to
enjoy her college years; being curious about whatever peaked her
interest and assimilating it into her writing. When reminiscing on
her college education Greta remarked I majored in a lot of things
and graduated in something. This holistic form of learning is
apparent in her writing and relates to her outlook. One of the most
important classes I took while at college, in relation to writing was
choreography. To Greta choreographing a dance is just like editing a
magazine: choosing the tone, characters, flow, and organizing the
piece so it can achieve its full potential.

CONNECTION
Greta`s influence for her writing is centered around
community and connection. These ideals were embedded in her
column entitled Space Ship Earth in Country Side Magazine; and
still continues today with Catalyst. Greta has constantly been
highlighting issues that aect the local community while also being
a proponent of connecting the people within the local ecosystem.
When starting Catalyst Magazine, Greta`s intention was focused
on connecting like-minded people with one another. When I first
started Catalyst, I didn't want articles, I wanted it to be a resource guide,
the stories just kinda snuck in. Greta saw a need for organizing this
beneficial information into one place. Everyone was working in
isolation, Catalyst had a big impact on the community because suddenly
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they were connected, suddenly they realized they weren't alone. Greta`s
direction towards a communal magazine was able to flourish
because the hierarchy common in writing was removed.
Instead of having the magazine as a conduit for planting
information into the reader`s head; it became a dialogue which
grew beneficially for both parties over time. Greta`s humble and
cooperative demeanor was evident in Catalyst. She treated her
employees as equals, as friends, as collaborators. Says former Catalyst
employee Andrea Malouf. She created an environment at Catalyst
Magazine that was more family-like than employee and employees. This
amalgamation of personal and public ethos was evident by how
Greta`s interview went, it wasn't a one way trajectory of extracting
information, it was a conversation, a general interest on both of
our parts to understand one another.
Greta`s writing and personality are beacons that shine
through the community attracting creative souls from all walks of
life. This communion allows for development to take place for
both parties. Greta`s unselfish nature influenced her editorial
position; she relishes in coaxing the research of magazine
contributors out of the caves of confusion and into the limelight of
clarity. This internal philosophy accompanied by a zest for life has
allowed for Greta`s work to resonate throughout the Wasatch
Valley. She has received recognition for her thoughtful work from
all walks of life; receiving the Service to Journalism Reward in

October 3, 2016

2000. As the work of Greta and Catalyst continue to grow, the

community around them does as well.

The power that writing has on our society is evident. We

are constantly being exposed to information through a variety of
outlets, and that information can either suppress or empower us. It
is evident to see that Greta takes the latter when it comes to her
involvement with writing. When talking about the aect she hopes
that her magazine and writing achieves, Greta remarked. I just
want people to be catalysts in their own lives. This idea is evident with
the stories that Greta`s magazine showcases, from how to create
your own compost, to the benefits of entheogens for drug
addiction. A meaningful life is the goal, and allowing people to
have the resources to create it for themselves is what Greta`s
involvement with writing is all about.

Spending the afternoon with Greta showed me a glimpse of

what truly being in your dharma looks like. She treats her stories
and the people around her like the plants in her garden, giving
them the right amount of care and attention so they may reach
their full potential. Greta`s green thumb for writing and editing
accompanied by an authentic self-acceptance, has allowed for her
to become deeply rooted in the creative culture of Salt Lake. The
future for Greta`s writing and her magazine will still be based upon
the altruistic authenticity that transmuted her personal dreams
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and ideas as a child to the public sphere of journalism. With

continuing support from the community, Greta`s empowering
tome will have the ability to spread across the valley like seeds on
fertile soil. The true purpose of writing, connection, will be
allowed to bloom.