Posts tagged ‘Indiegogo’
The Power of Peace
Several years ago, Kit Cummings was going into prisons with a Christian prison ministry trying to change the hearts and minds of prisoners. There was some success, but a couple of years into working with that group, Kit realized that he could affect more change by creating a program based around the principles of peace using people who lived by example like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Ghandi, and Sister Teresa, etc. He went into Georgia’s Hays State Prison – one of the most violent prisons in the country – and talked to them about what really commands respect and pride – PEACE.
On January 18, 2011 he convinced 12 men – some former gang members serving life sentences – to take the Seven Steps of Peace Pledge based on principles of non-violence and peace (see attached for pledge) for 40 days and journal about it. They were sworn to secrecy, but the word spread like wildfire in the prison anyway because their behavior was so different. Other men became curious and inmates began to talk about the 40 Days of Peace. Instead of being labeled as ‘weak’, these men gained a new kind of respect among the prison population. More inmates at Hays State Prison underwent the program and the prison violence dropped to it’s lowest point ever with so many men living The Power of Peace program. Additionally, men getting out of the system were going back to their old neighborhood and exerting positive change, becoming the ‘anti-virus’ to gang warfare and setting examples to command respect in a different way in some of the roughest parts of cities around the nation.About a year into working his prison program, Kit realized these inmates could have a huge impact on the troubled teens that looked up to them on the streets before they went behind bars. And the same principles that worked to change these criminals could be used to inspire tough teens to take a different path. The POPP has expanded to include community development programs and anti-bullying campaigns in alternative high schools. In the Michigan Dept. of Corrections along, nearly 1,000 inmates have committed to peace and to becoming role models — not only to inmates across the country, but to a young generation that is losing its way. Kansas prisons have also adopted this program where it’s taking hold.
Whether someone is a tough kid from an inner city school, or a college-prep kid living in the suburbs, it no longer matters — this is not a rich or poor, black, white, Hispanic issue – because believing in the power of peace is a common bond that we all share — and now POPP is collectively putting that belief into action. Their 40 Days to Freedom is a seven step program designed to create a “new normal” for teens and their community. The Power of Peace Project changes what “cool” looks like — the bully is no longer cool, now the peacemaker is. Bullies and victims of bullying learn about peace, non-violence and conflict resolution — seeking first to understand, finding common ground, walking a mile in another’s shows, learning to pause before responding, and learning to express what they are feeling – even to their parents!So besides telling you a great uplifting story about some people making big changes in the world, why am I telling you this?
Because The Power of Peace Program needs your help.
Here is their goal:
To raise $10,000 in 30 days, which will allow us to sponsor 100 teens in our Power of Peace Program. As little as $100 takes one teen through our Ten Week Inspired Straight training course. The result: a decline in bullying, truancy, expulsion, alcohol/drug use, disciplinary reports, and dropout. POPP teen participants/graduates see an increase in healthy behavior, attendance, good grades, productivity, and positive attitude. Dreams are born, gifts are uncovered, and young minds come alive! Please click the link below, watch a short clip and donate (no amount is too small). The impact you make will last a lifetime with these kids.
Please consider donating to this impactful, non-profit organization and SHARE this with family, friends, even your enemies, to inspire them to bring about PEACE – one person at a time.YOU can help bring about change and impact in people’s lives who don’t have many (if any) positive influences. They are 64% of the way to their goal, let’s put them over the top!
Times are tough for many people I know…but these are street kids with no support system that they are helping to become productive citizens, young adults that will make a difference in their communities down the line.
Please do whatever you can…even if it’s simply sharing this information with others that may be able to donate!
Thanks SO much for your support. For more information on The Power of Peace Project please visit their site and follow them on social media:
Twitter: @PowerofPeace88
Peace, love and joy to you all!
Global Learning XPRIZE & Roddenberry Foundation Team Up
The Roddenberry Foundation contributes $100,000 to the Global Learning XPRIZE Indiegogo campaign!
The Roddenberry Foundation, founded by Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, inspires efforts that create and expand new frontiers for the benefit of humanity. It funds innovative solutions to critical global issues in the areas of science and technology, the environment, education and humanitarian advances.
Rod creates a short video to share his passion for innovation and the Global Learning XPRIZE:
The wonderful contribution from the Roddenberry Foundation has inspired us to seek new frontiers and raise our overall goal for the rest of the 14 day campaign to $750,000.
Raising this extra money will provide an opportunity for us to take this innovative learning technology to even more kids in more parts of the world, and put further community collaboration tooling and infrastructure in place to build this global movement to end the chronic lack of literacy in the world.
We need your help!
To achieve our stretch goal of $750,000 we need your help to help spread the word and raise awareness of the campaign!
Here are five things you can do today to help:
- Contribute! – a great place to start is to buy one of our awesome perks. Scroll up to find out more!
- Join the Community – come and meet the new XPRIZE community at http://forum.xprize.org and share ideas, brainstorm, and collaborate around new projects.
- Show Your Pride – go and download the Street Team Kit and use the images and avatars in there to change your profile picture and banner on your favorite social media networks (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Google+).
- Put Posters up in Your Community – go and download the Street Team Kit, print the posters out and put them up in your local coffee shops, universities, colleges, schools, and elsewhere!
- Organize a Local Event – create a local event to share the Global Learning XPRIZE. Fortunately we have a video on our Get Involved page that explains how you can do this, and we have a presentation deck with notes ready for you to use!
Thanks to every one of you for your continued support!
Visit the ‘Global Learning XPRIZE’ campaign.
Comment on or view this announcement here.
Respond directly to the campaign owner here.
Help spread the word about the campaign!
queen of connection | Shelby L. Phillips 