"Whatever you dream...BEGIN"

 

 

 

 

Today is the launching of Kelly Sullivan's MIGHTY FINGERS--FACING CHANGE project, and right now, half-way around the world from where I sit typing these words in the Philippines, her kick-off party has begun...

I woke early to not only be able to receive and post the news release below, but to donate funds.  There was a lovely, momentarily dazzling choice of whose name to make it in and, suddenly, I was faced with such an array of friends who have supported my own work that I almost gave up and clicked the anonymous button. 

In the end, I chose the woman whose own generosity has been an inspiring example for me to follow, but who is so modest that when Kelly also gave the option to upload a photo next to the donor's name, I laughed and chose a collaged artwork of my own to symbolize and share with her the pleasure of supporting this project.  My friend is featured more than once in this blog (and not as often as deserved), so will be known to long-time followers.

Because I have already emailed to my many friends and supporters the news of this ambitious project, I am adding to this post a letter of support for Kelly's Mighty Fingers--Facing Change, further elaboration of the project's goals, for people to read over the next few months of the fund-raising campaign:

 

"Mighty Fingers Facing Change is a global collaborative art project that will empower adolescent girls around the world to build stronger communities.  Originated by my friend and renown artist, Kelly Sullivan, Mighty Fingers Facing Change will travel to a minimum of 14 locations in six continents to work with with adolescent girls to create a giant global community mural and a series of the girls' self portraits.  We have partnered with many non-profit organizations throughout the world that support women and girls day in and day out, and at each location, Kelly and her Mighty Fingers team will work with one of the non-profits and a large group of adolescent girls to show them how to create art with their "Mighty Fingers."  They will encourage and celebrate individuality as they help the girls create their own self-portraits using visualization exercises and their very own fingers to paint instead of paint brushes!  Then they will work together with the girls to design and paint a portion of the 16' x 5' Mighty Fingers global community FingerSmear mural.  The girls will use their mighty fingers to add their own indelible mark to the mural and sign their name to it.

Young women are the largest underserved and at-risk population worldwide.  By bringing young women together to paint and freely express themselves through the creativity, collaboration and honesty of art, we will show girls everywhere that they have the power to dream big and succeed, to create stronger communities, and to build a better future.

While I will not be traveling with the Mighty Fingers team, I am very connected to the project and am excited to remain involved with the journey by watching the video uploads Kelly and her team make along the way and reading about their progress.  Before we can get started with the project, we need to raise $145,000 by December 5^th, 2012.  The funds are vital to pay for airfare, ground transport, art supplies, video equipment and general trip expenses.

Please visit our Indiegogo.com page to learn more about the project and to contribute in any way you can.  It is very easy to contribute and you will be graciously rewarded for your support"

http://www.indiegogo.com/Mighty-Fingers?a=1278781

Together, let's create a better world.

MIGHTY FINGERS

In my last post I wrote of having two goals for this next post:
      First, a determination to complete this blog, a 'body of work' which began as a means to document, thank, and share with supporters the achievements their donations made possible, 
and,
      secondly, a desire to 'give back' by now supporting someone else’s project.  

 
The project that has inspired me is Kelly Sullivan’s

Mighty Fingers--FacingChange.

Similar to my vision for One Candle Schoolhouse and the Bright Lights Learning Centers, of youths creatively exploring their individuality within the community, Kelly Sullivan’s project is much more ambitious and inspiring--it is Global in scope. 

Kelly says this about her project:

     “In this Career Opus, Mighty Fingers--Facing Change, I will use my twenty years of experience and the power of artistic collaboration to stimulate, strengthen and unify the largely under-served adolescent female population. They have the ability to change the world. I want to be a part of the most exciting shift of the 21st century…
bring(ing) a unifying spotlight to the numerous organizations working to improve the lives of women around the world...ultimately leading to strengthened communities on a local and global level.”


I began corresponding with Kelly two years ago, after reading her first blog post titled, Life is Short. It is a galvanizing essay for anyone with dreams yet unfulfilled.  Since then, I have been continually touched by this amazing woman’s fierce dedication to both her family and her Art.  Not easy commitments to balance equally, but I admire the integrity with which she does it.

I believe in Kelly's project, which will be launched this September 15th, 2012.  I have chosen to help Kelly for possibly very selfish reasons:

     First, I want her to visit the Philippines so that Bright Lights can host her Team
and,
     second, I want our students be able to experience what she has to offer.

To help make that happen I have become a Mighty Ambassador for her project.

  What must a Mighty Ambassador do, you ask?

check it out and please consider choosing to support her, too...for myself, it is simply a broader way to continue helping the Learning Centers provide unique growth opportunities for our rural Community.  Perhaps it will be for you, too?

A Host of Angels

"The World isn't about You,

but about you in the World"

--Jane Alexnder

I have to confess that, since last December 29th, 2011, my world shrank to a total focus on myself, my own small world aboard my home, my boat, PILAR.

All my life I have been strong and healthy, seldom ill, and never incapacitated...until the Christmas Party at the beach for the Learning Centers' students. There, foolishly forgetting how old I was amid the heartening calls for me to join them in jumping off a rock into very shallow water, I jumped...and heard three separate CRACK!'s as I landed on my right heel. It was a blow to more than just my calcaneus: It shattered illusions of my ability to stay in control. Succumbing to a helpless, hopelessly narrow focus--one of simply learning how to navigate life on crutches, afloat or ashore--I had no energy for anyone or anything more.

Coinciding with being physically demoralized during the following months, there came the emotionally draining transition of stepping aside as Board President/Executive Director of the two campus' of Bright Lights Community Learning Initiatives, Inc. After six years of sole responsibility for One Candle Schoolhouse and four years of mentoring Volunteers for the Learning Centers, the envisioned goal of BLCLII as a Filipino directed (not foreigner directed) organization, finally became a reality.  Positive as the event was, I knew I would miss the personal gratification that future leaders would rightfully claim.

In March, the annual Board Meeting elected Renato Dela Cruz to be President, and though the new Vice President, Simon Stack, is an American, for the last year, with his Filipina wife, Tata, he has been one-half of a very strong, supportive team for the Learning Centers.

Simon and Tata Stack recognized early on that, along with the new Board's authority, came a large financial responsibility in the transition, and had begun preparing for it as early as Fall 2011. Previous posts have not done justice to all their work--nor have I been reliable about posting the generous support of many other friends who have given donations of time, money and materials to our students.  While my personal world shrunk to a citizen of one, for others who continued to live within a world larger than themselves, I will now begin to honor their commitment.

*Angels*

Tata, May Uy, Annabelle Lee Adriano, Clotilde Arzaga, Myrna Balana-Mclean, Josephine Barot, Irma Pal, Engr. Geronica Martinez, Ninotchka Yoldean and Anonymous Donor, THANK YOU for supporting Tata's Fund Raising project.

Due to your help, termite control was made possible for Siit, in addition to the vital, financially costly completion of necessary papers for our SEC/BIR documentation.

*Angel*

Mercy Porras

Manila-based Mercy Porras, sent a huge box to us through her sister-in-law, Annabelle Lee-Adriano, after a visit to Tambobo last year. The photo of Mercy's donation of Livelihood Manuals for numerous handmade soaps, Massage Techniques, Specialty Foods, plus a dazzling array of Cross Stitch and Sewing Patterns, doesn't begin to do justice to enormity of potential industry she has opened the doors to,  for our students and the community at large. We are still overwhelmed by the bounty but will post photos of our progress as we gain expertise.   

*Angel*

Mimi Davis

As a result of an open letter in Dumaguete's newspaper, MetroPost, thanking the many supporters of Irma & Alex Pal's 2009 Christmas Project that brought NINE HUGE BOXES of clothes to One Candle Schoolhouse and the students of Bright Lights, I learned of Mimi Davis' desire to donate money to the children at Sto. Nenio Children's Home*.  With so much abundance from the Pal Family, the BLCLC students shared what they had with several other organizations' children, by hosting a Christmas Party for them, and Mimi resolved to remedy the mention of a need for extra vitamins at Sto. Nenio.  

  

After delivering Mimi's donation to the Sto. Nenio children, we then visited GP Rehab** where Mimi met Gabrielle. 

Seven years old then, Gabrielle was born with Cerebral Palsy. He loves books, loves throwing a ball with his stronger left arm, and is unbelievably smart. Mimi provided the means for doubling Gabrielle and his mother's food allowance by 250Php@week (from less than $5.00 to nearly $10.00), for the next four months.

*Sto. Nino Children’s Home Foundation, Inc. is a non-government and non-profit child institution for abandoned neonates/newborn infants and children needing immediate medical and home care services. The foundation provides shelter and homecare services, psycho-social services, educational support program, assistance for hospitalization and other medical needs and value formation and spiritual services. The Institution aims to create a child responsive health and home care program with integrated and sustainable support services that will promote and enhance children’s growth and development. It was founded by Reverend Father Marcelino “Butch” Malana, a religious missionary (with the help of his friends) who have strong concerns on the plight of unwanted, abandoned and homeless neonates/newborn infants and children especially those with mental or physical defects.

**Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. (GPRehab) is an organization whose main purpose is to support Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in their struggle for inclusion in society. Its main objective is to provide high-quality physical and occupational therapy services to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. Since September 2004 GPRehab has been implemented Caring Hands to Inspire and Link with Disabled Children (CHILD), a children’s rehabilitation project, in Metro Dumaguete, the province of Oriental Negros. Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation Noradf) and NDCF, the overall objectives is to provide a better quality of life for children with physical, motor and intellectual disabilities through rehabilitation and education. Implemented with all of the same program components, GPRehab is currently providing free physical therapy, occupational therapy and special education services to 100 children with various disabilities from indigent families. In order to make its work more comprehensive, it has come up with 6 programs: community-based rehabilitation program, holistic functional development program, networking referral and advocacy program, human resource and development program, asset building for sustainability program, and information, communication and educational program. Operating on a very stringent budget for quite period of time, GPRehab has been able to move forward with the
implementation of its programs.

More wonderful Angels in the next posting...