Please support Encompass (http://www.firstgiving.com/team-gotham-angelica-summer-juliana ).
Here’s why:
When I was a kid, my father taught my sister and I that there was a creative solution to every problem. When we were faced with a dilemma, he often suggested that we recall our favorite novel, or movie, maybe a Shakespeare play and contemplate whether encoded in these great creative stories, there was a resolution to our problem. In short, my father believed that creativity was the essence of real wisdom and the source from which all things emerged.
Today all across California – as many of you know firsthand – we are facing a catastrophic dilemma. Our state budgetary crisis is resulting in massive cutbacks in public schools from Sacramento to San Diego and everywhere in between. Amongst the first programs often to go are the arts – including theater groups, music organizations, and other in-school and after school activities that enable students to express their creativity, flex their artistic muscles, and broaden their minds through the arts.
While the schools are grappling with these cuts in the arts, they are also trying to respond to the needs of the largest and most diverse adolescent population in our nation’s history. So while inter-group tensions , scapegoating and violence tend to increase during economic recessions, few schools are prepared to address the conflicts among their students.
There is one organization in California that is dedicated solely to reducing prejudice and conflict among youth and to using participation in the arts as a method for personal and community transformation. I am proud to serve on its board of directors.
ENCOMPASS’ (www.encompass.org) core mission is to empower youth by providing them a creative platform to express themselves. Specific programs for creating bias free classes, teaching tolerance, resolving conflict with compassion, and empowering students through non-violent communication are at the core of the work that Encompass does every day. Encompass’ ability to blend creative expression with practical methods for diffusing conflict and tension amongst California teens is one of the most powerful things I have been around.
As many of us work in the arts, no one better than us understands the true power of the arts. We also know that gifted youth require true nurturing to fulfill their true potential. I can say firsthand that Encompass achieves this mission every single day. Their work makes a dramatic, concrete, and critical difference in the lives of Souther California teens. I have made a commitment to support their work and hope that you too will learn more about what they do and consider making a tax deductable donation to help support their mission. Please also know that your donation will be matched by the Herb Alpert Foundation and hence have double the impact!
Please donate online by clicking the following link:
today or mailing a check to the address below.
ANY amount is GREATLY appreciated!
Gotham Chopra
ENCOMPASS
517 S. Myrtle Ave., STE 200
Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 358-3442
www.encompass.org
About Gotham Chopra
Gotham Chopra is a multi-media voice on issues of spirituality, culture, and news.
As an anchor for Channel One News -- an in-school educational news
broadcast seen daily by upwards of 8 million American students --
Gotham reported from Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Egypt, China, India,
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Colombia, Russia, Chechnya,
Mexico, Honduras, all across Europe and the United States. He has
interviewed a wide range of Global leaders -- from President Bush to
the Dalai Lama to associates and foot soldiers of Osama Bin Laden. He
has hosted events as diverse as the Pope's pep rally in St. Louis to
the action at the fifty-yard line at the Superbowl. Gotham's global
assignments have sent him on patrol with anti-militant commando units
in war torn Kashmir and had him detained by secret police in China,
Iran, and Pakistan.
Gotham is the author of Familiar Strangers (Random House 2002)
-- a non-fiction and spiritual chronicle of his travels and encounters
at the frontlines of areas in conflict and transition.
Gotham served as Story Editor on the Bulletproof Monk -- a
comic book about bullets, monks, gangs, and seekers. He also served as
Executive Producer of the feature Film with John Woo's Lion Rock Films
and MGM Studios, which appeared in theaters in 2003. He is also author
of Child of the Dawn, a novel published in 1996 and translated in 13
languages internationally. He recorded The Mythical Lover on A Gift of
Love -- a recording of sensual poetry by the 13th Century poet Rumi,
and has served as researcher and lyrical advisor to Michael Jackson on
the multi-platinum albums Dangerous and HIStory. He has also served as
Producer on television specials for PBS.
As co-founder of 5K Entertainment, Gotham wrote, is producing,
and will direct the indy feature Swindle. He is also the co-creator of
K Lounge -- a Kama Sutra bar and lounge in New York City with more to
launch internationally in 2005.
As co-founder of Chopra Media and a partner in Intent Media (with
Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur), Gotham is involved in a wide-array of
creative media ventures. He is the President of development for Gotham
Studios Asia, the largest comic book studio in India.
Currently Gotham is serving as creative consultant to Current TV, a new
television network co-founded by former Vice-President Al Gore, and
scheduled to launch in 20 million American households in August 2005.
Identified by Newsweek Magazine (March 04) as one of the "most
powerful and influential" South Asians worth watching, Gotham speaks
nationally on issues of youth and spirituality, conflict resolution,
and develops workshops to create a language for young people to bring
out the internal and external issues that important to them.
Thank you for this post Gotham! The arts truly are an important part of children's education. And yay for supporting charities during the holidays!