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A novel project created in Landmark’s SELP program is taking place in January in Washington DC. The project is a native American drum circle to put the bears to sleep for the winter, as well as a pot luck dinner. Created by Craig Evans, the event will run from 12-4pm on January 17.
Evans has also created a Landmark Education: Native Style Facebook page with hundreds of fans. Visit the page to learn more.
Genesis at the Crossroads, the project created ten years ago in the Landmark Education Self-Expression and Leadership Program to bridge cultural divides and conflict through the arts, is still going strong, with a recent writeup in the Washington Times of its recent accomplishments.
The project was created in 1999 by Wendy Sternberg, and involves extraordinary musical performances by artists from all different cultures and religions in the Middle East. Recently Sternberg gave up a successful career as a doctor and professor of internal medicine to focus on the non-profit organization she created full time – she is Genesis at the Crossroads’ artistic director.
Here is a brief piece of the article describing the organization:
Her formula is simple. Pair artists from polar opposite communities and cultural backgrounds, and cultural healing isn’t far behind.
Since its inception, Genesis has created and prodced more than 100 cross-cultural collaborative programs, three nationally touring concerts of Arab and Jewish musicians, as well as their Israeli-Palestinian, Gesher-Jisr, Building Bridges performance, featured at the United Nations’ 60th anniversary celebration.
Joy Brockman recently put on a project in her Landmark SELP program in Canada, titled ‘Art in the Heart’. Brockman’s description of the project and the event that came of it appeared in a local publication, shown below.
‘Art in the Heart’ Project
As part of a Landmark Education course, I wanted to empower our community with pride, inspiration and connectedness. Targeting teens, it became evident that we all can use more creative time. I wanted to offer a constructive ‘time-out,’ out of our busyness, out of the isolation of our technical straightjackets. I wanted to create a day of connecting with each other and expressing ourselves through play and ease.
The “Art in the Heart” project was developed and on October 31, the communities of Deux-Montagnes and St-Eustache were invited to a whole day to express themselves artistically, “Come and, with local artists, share your artwork on a huge mural.”
Local artists such as Cecile Bouchard, Luc Latreille, Zola Belanger, shared their artistic know-how. So many came (80 painters plus visitors) that we expanded to use the whole space and create three huge murals. It was fun.
From nothing we created three walls of art and inspiration. People came up to me to say they wanted to see this event repeated and others said they personally wanted to make a simlar difference in their areas. I would love to see this project repeated. Next year let’s plan to see this event happen outside, in a permanent location!
The day was made possible through the generous support of Normand Yargeau (Place St-Eustache), IGA Crevier St-Eustache, and De Serrers Boisbriand. Also thanks to the artists, Bouchard and Latreille in particular, and the graphic artists, translators and friends. Thanks also to those who accepted the invitation and painted. We all made a difference that day. Every day we have a choice to be the difference we want to see in the world. Thank you all.
Leadership and Self Development was recently told about the existence of a Family Play Day SELP project which took place in the metropolitan Detroit area last July. Here is what we heard:
On July 19, 2008, a family play day was held at the Lipke Recreation Center field, the purpose of which was for families to play together, interact with their community and raise money for local schools in need.
The idea was for a full day of fun and happiness and community involvement.
Earlier in 2008, Brady Runkle created a Family Play Day as a Landmark SELP project in Olympia, Washington (see our story). Leadership and Self Development will post more information if we receive any further details about the event.
The Website Landmark Education News recently wrote about the SELP project of Nick Johnson, which involved the creation of Pelican Post, an organization that gathers books to be sent to a range of different schools in Africa.
Kim Dunsmore was inspired by that project and the self-expression and leadership programme to create her own project that is benefitting Pelican Post – she’s calling it The Big Book Swap. With co-organizer Kim Thomond, they are arranging a fun-filled night wherein person attending brings one or more books that hold importance to them, writing inside why they love the book, and then swapping it for some other favorite book that someone else brought.
In addition to the fun of book swapping, the event if featuring raffles, drinks and donations, all of which will go towards Pelican Post, thus funding great books as well for those in Africa who may not otherwise have access to them.
The event is taking place on June 1, 2010 at the Royal College of Physicians.
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