As founder and executive director of Artists for World Peace, I launched The Dr. Yoram Kaufmann Scholarship Fund in December 2009. Artists for World Peace, an international non-profit organization dedicated to fostering peace through artistic expression, will use the funds to enable children around the world to attain an education. Beginning with children from the Santa Clara Orphanage in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we aim to eventually sponsor a child in each country.

Anyone who knew Yoram (and who knows his wife, Rise), will understand the urgent need I felt to honor this beloved teacher, humanitarian, and friend. So, this past summer, Artists for World Peace conducted all of its humanitarian work in his name. With funds collected in Yoram’s memory, we bought over 500 pairs of new sneakers, which we hand delivered to the children of Santa Clara in Rio de Janeiro.

The Dr. Yoram Kaufmann Scholarship Fund, however, will enable us to permanently honor Yoram’s memory. Since he touched so many lives as a brilliant producer and sharer of knowledge, I thought it most fitting to educate children in his name. Our goal is to raise $100,000.00 this year. We will safely invest the principal and use the interest to create annual scholarships. Building upon the principal each year through donations, Artists for World Peace will help change the lives of our world’s children for generations while also honoring Yoram’s memory.

It is not often that a humanitarian, scholar, teacher, and man of integrity crosses our path and lights the way for so many. Please help us continue Yoram’s legacy by supporting the Dr. Yoram Kaufmann Scholarship Fund. All donations are tax -deductable and will be acknowledged on our website and in our promotional literature.
Donations will be gratefully received at:

Artists for World Peace
P.O. Box 95
Middletown, CT. 06457

To learn more about Dr. Yoram Kaufmann, please visit www.zahavbooks.com

As part of Artists for World Peace: Children of Peace Projects, we at Artists for World Peace, will be joining forces with Gina Athena Ulysse for a benefit to help make the dreams of these 10 children come true. Join us for an evening in celebration of Haiti.

Date: Friday, March 19th, 2010
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Ticket Price: $40.00
*100% of proceeds from the evening will be donated to INURED Cite Soleil Scholarship Program

Location: The Hubbard House
377 Ridge Road
Middletown, Connecticut

To reserve your tickets please contact Artists for World Peace, at wendyblacknasta@aol.com or mail $40.00 to

Artists for World Peace
P.O. Box 95
Middletown, Ct. 06457

BIO

Photographer: Andy vernon-Jones

Some of her poetry and prose publications include: “A Poem About Why I Can’t Wait: Going Home Again and Again and Again: Why I Prefer the Term Incarcerated When Talking about Agency” in The Butterfly’s Way: Voices From the Haitian Diaspora in the United States, edited by Edwidge Dandicat; A series of her poetry entitled “I Came of Age Colonized Now my Soul is Tired and I am Feeling All this Rage” was published by Jouvert: Journal of Postcolonial Studies; “Homage to Those Who Hollered Before Me” in Meridians: Feminism, Race and Transnationalism; “Water Spirits and Revolutionary Barbies” and “Ode to the Metres: On Going Home and Learning How to Glide” in Ma Comere, Journal of the Association of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars. Her work has also appeared in several anthropological anthologies: “Concepts of Home” in Women on the Verge of Home, edited Bilinda Straight (SUNYPress) and “My Country in Translation” in Resisting Racism and Xenophobia: Global Perspectives on Race, Gender, and Human Rights, edited by Faye V. Harrison  (AltaMira Press).

A dynamic and riveting performer, described as by a reviewer as “a fantastic whirlwind of word and emotion, transforming Haiti from an objective abstract to a subjective reality,” Ulysse has performed her one-woman show “Because When God is too Busy; Haiti, me and THE WORLD”—a monologue that weaves spokenword with Vodou chants— throughout the States as well as Bluestockings Bookstore, The Bowery, Brecht Forum, LaMaMa, Lyric Stage Theatre in Boston, Center Stage in Santa Barbara among others. She has also performed at conferences including the American Anthropological Association Meetings, American Ethnological Association Meetings, PRISM conference and in various colleges and universities including Bates College, Berry College, Brown University, Emerson College, New School for Social Research, Oberlin, University of Florida, University of Miami, Williams College among others. She has also performed in Europe. She was invited to close the Berlin’s House of World Cultures Black Atlantic Project in 2004 with a performance of her poetry. Her first book, Downtown Ladies was published by the University of Chicago Press in 2008. When she is not expressing her rage on the stage, she is an Associate Professor of Anthropology, African-American Studies and Feminist Gender and Sexuality Studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She is the co-founder and director of the Haiti Illumination Project (HIP).

For more info:

http://www.ginaathenaulysse.com/

http://works.bepress.com/gina_ulysse/

http://www.potomitan.net/

Ram Dass – a world renowned author and teacher since the 60’s,

Therese Fitzgerald – Meditation, Saul David Raye – Yoga, and Krishna Das – kirtan, devotional music and

Lei’ohu Ryder – a spiritual leader, visionary, healer, singer/songwriter, and educator on Maui.

The retreat was sponsored by the Love, Serve, Remember Foundation. LSRF is dedicated to disseminating and sustaining the spiritual teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, a Hindu Guru, on Service and Devotion.

All events were held in the Aloha Pavilion in a beautiful resort at waters edge. Daily, the Spiritual Energy, Peace and Love generated in the room filled everyone’s hearts.

The Peace Belt was displayed at the Hospitality Table in the Aloha Pavilion each day of the retreat, and, I am certain that the Amazing Positive Energy generated there resonated in, with, and through the belt, in harmony with all of its previous travels. The most heartwarming thing for me, as caretaker for this trip, was experiencing the Love and Peace Vibrations of the gathering – something I had not experienced in a large group since the 1960’s and 1970’s. My personal lesson was that the Energy is always there – it is always available to all of us – we just have to Open Our Hearts, and let it in.

I am filled with gratitude that I was able to experience the Amplification of that Energy with such a large group of people – who are all now my family, in Peace and Love.

The final day of the retreat began with a beautiful ceremony at dawn on the beach, lead by Lei’ohu Ryder. She is an emissary of aloha and an advocate for the indigenous mind in all people, blind to the labels (race, creed, nationality, ideology, etc.) that can separate us from experiencing the true nature of our selves and others. Her work has been recognized by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Peace Corps and the United Nations. Lei’ohu was awarded the Gandhi-King Peace Hero Award in 2002 and in 2003 the Peace Corps Peace Educator Award. She has shared her gifts all around the world including Japan, Israel, India, and most of Europe. Lei’ohu is deeply connected to the land and the sea, and she held the International Peace Belt as she conducted the ceremony. Also in her hands were Taro Leaves, important to the culture of the Hawaiian people. She included in the ceremony:

“It is respect and surrender to the highest calling of your spirit that takes you to your origin of place of spirit. The message is “Aloha,” that breath of love, that breath of light that goes back to our original intent, love. Spirit is love. When we are fully present, the spirit of place is all about love and compassion and allowing love to transcend all things Aloha is an energy. It’s not just a word; it’s not just love. When you say, “Aloha,” your body fills with the spirit. Aloha energy connects the spirit of place within our bodies with the full spirit of the Universe, of Mother Earth. Just like the beautiful food we eat that is organically grown. You can taste the energy in the food that is loved and cared for. Or when you see a person smile, you are seeing the spirit of place in that person. Their spirit is coming inside you. You can feel that. Tell people to say “Aloha.” When you say, “Aloha,” you can feel your body tingling, your cells erasing all the barnacles that you carry, eradicating all the resentment, hate, and sorrow that have been transmitted from generation to generation through your DNA. Keep saying, “Aloha, Aloha, Aloha,” and visualizing that Aloha. It will be the biggest medicine in your spirit of place that you ever had so you can walk more fully in your divineness.”

Maureen Tary, Membership coordinator for www.ramdass.org

Dear Sponsor,

We hope you know how much your ongoing kindness means to the children still waiting in Chinese orphanages.

We are delighted to pass on a copy of a recent progress report about the child you so generously sponsor. This progress report below is just a small glimpse into the life-saving work that you make possible.

We so appreciate warm hearted sponsors like you.

With hugs from all the children and staff of Half the Sky…

Shu Qilong

Another quarter has passed and Qilong is now over one year old. The lively Qilong is healthy and he approaches everyday happily.

In this quarter, Qilong has made great progress in every aspect. His language and expressions are richer and he can undertake more complex actions. He has learned to crawl quickly and often crawls to investigate places new to him. He can use his fingers and hands well too. Everyday, when he is taking a bath, he uses his hands to pat on the water alternately with splashing water on his and my faces. He is very interested in his environment. He likes playing with the green ball. He pushes it and the ball rolls forward and Qilong will crawl to catch up with it. With practice, Qilong has been able to stand up by holding onto the railings or other objects.

July 20th was Qilong’s first birthday. We had a birthday cake with one candle for him. We put the cake on the small table and the other nannies and children gathered to watch Qilong blow out the candle, which I helped him to do. We sang ‘happy birthday’ and took some photographs for him too. At this time, Qilong crawled around the table and wanted to stretch out his hands to hold the cake. I held his right hand so we could cut one piece of cake for Qilong before we cut the rest of the cake so Qilong could share with the other children. As he was the ‘main actor’ that day, we painted his face so he looked like a cat. He and the other children enjoyed the birthday party.

When I helped Qilong to practice walking, he was unwilling to step forward. I took him to the running machine in the recovery room to practice twice a day. On the first few days of practice, Qilong cried loudly from the beginning to the end of the practice and refused to walk. After a few days passed, Qilong gradually stopped crying. A week passed, Qilong began to be willing to walk on his own. Then I began to use the ‘walker’ to train him. He has been able to hold the railings to walk and can walk more quickly with the ‘walker’ too.

When Qilong sees the other children playing with the toys he likes, he will try to take them away. When I say, ’stop trying to take the toys of the younger sisters away’ he still keeps doing it, while smiling at me. He is mischievous now and he can understand my expressions. When I scold him, he will call me ‘mum’ to show his affection to me. Qilong is very interested in the new toys and the toys which can move. He always sits to observe the new toys and then stretches out to touch them.

If I clap my hands to praise him, he is very happy. When he meets problems and needs help, he will crawl to me. Sometimes when I ask him to bring a toy for the younger sister, he will bring it to me at once. When I talk to him face to face, he will listen to me intently.

Come on, Qilong! I hope you can walk on your own soon!

Shu Jiulin

In this quarter, Jiulin has made great progress. She can play in more and more ways. When she plays, she sometimes bends her knees to her stomach and uses her hands to play with her toes.

Jiulin is a lively and bright girl. She is the most active child when having meals. When it is time to have a meal, she will walk quickly to me and eat the food quickly. Then she will pat her stomach proudly as if to say ‘I am full’ and then she will look at me while smiling happily. Sometimes she is a bit mischievous too. When she is to go to bed, she will pull her diaper off and throw it away. She throws the quilts and pillows on the ground too. When I see her doing this, I will say, ‘Jiulin, what are you doing? The smart child does not do this.’ Hearing my words, she will lie down to pretend to sleep.

During these days, Jiulin seems dependent on me. Once she sees me, she will walk to me quickly and ask me for a hug and then she will follow me. If I do not hug her, she will begin to open her mouth to cry loudly. When I pick her up she will stop crying and begin to smile and call me ‘mum, mum’. To help her to become independent, I often take the toys that Jiulin likes to help her to stand for a longer time. At this time, I will praise her and pick her up to kiss or lift her higher, which always makes her laugh out loud happily.

Featured at the retreat will be Ram Dass, a beloved spiritual teacher, Krishna Das , a renowed practicitioner of Bhakti Yoga-the yoga of devotion, leading Kirtans around the workd – chanting the Names of God, Saul David Raye, a leading Yoga, Healing & Spirituality teacher, Therese Fitzgerald, Meditation Instructor and dharma holder of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Mindfulness Vietnamese Zen tradition and Lei’ohu Ryder …

At this yearly retreat the International Peace Belt will likely be worn by:

Lei’ohu Ryder is a spiritual leader, visionary, healer, singer/songwriter, and educator on Maui. She is an emissary of aloha and an advocate for the indigenous mind in all people, blind to the labels (race, creed, nationality, ideology, etc.) that can separate us from experiencing the true nature of our selves and others.

Auntie Lei’s love and knowledge of Na Mea Hawaii, help us connect with our selves, with spirit, and be pono (balanced in right alignment). Lei’ohu offers her gifts to you in Maui and throughout the world, through blessings, music, public speaking, intensives, counseling, healing work, wedding ceremonies, and funeral services… all with aloha.

Lei’ohu’s talents and knowledge are honored and loved in her community and the world. Her work has been recognized by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Peace Corps and the United Nations. Lei’ohu was awarded the Gandhi-King Peace Hero Award in 2002 and in 2003 the Peace Corps Peace Educator Award. She has shared her gifts all around the world including Japan, Israel, India, and most of Europe.

“I have been trained by a lot of the spirits of the places that called me. Many of my teachers are in that form. So one walks and learns at the same time. One trusts the creator to help. One must come face to face with the walk itself. You cannot plot your destination. It’s not all gravy. You’re not on a constant high. It is respect and surrender to the highest calling of your spirit that takes you to your origin of place of spirit.

The message is “Aloha,” that breath of love, that breath of light that goes back to our original intent, love. Spirit is love. When we are fully present, the spirit of place is all about love and compassion and allowing love to transcend all things. When you love, you don’t judge, you don’t separate. When you love, you have mercy and forgiveness. When you love, you understand that you are connected with a greater whole.

The biggest message I can give to the people of the world is to know that we are all aloha. We are all spirit. We are all connected to something much greater than ourselves. We are spirit of place. We don’t have to save money for ten years to buy a place ticket to Hawaii. Spirit of place is where you are. It is where the creator has placed you. And you don’t have to have money or position. All you have to be is spirit itself, humble, smiling, playing, being life, being aloha, knowing that you are part of that rainbow bridge, that breath of aloha.

Aloha is an energy. It’s not just a word; it’s not just love. When you say, “Aloha,” your body fills with the spirit. Aloha energy connects the spirit of place within our bodies with the full spirit of the Universe, of Mother Earth. Just like the beautiful food we eat that is organically grown. You can taste the energy in the food that is loved and cared for. Or when you see a person smile, you are seeing the spirit of place in that person. Their spirit is coming inside you. You can feel that. Tell people to say “Aloha.” When you say, “Aloha,” you can feel your body tingling, your cells erasing all the barnacles that you carry, eradicating all the resentment, hate, and sorrow that have been transmitted from generation to generation through your DNA. Keep saying, “Aloha, Aloha, Aloha,” and visualizing that Aloha. It will be the biggest medicine in your spirit of place that you ever had so you can walk more fully in your divineness.”

Ram Dass first went to India in 1967. He was still Dr. Richard Alpert, an already eminent Harvard psychologist and psychedelic pioneer with Dr.Timothy Leary. He had continued his psychedelic research until that fateful Eastern trip in 1967, when he traveled to India. In India, he met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, affectionately known as Maharajji, who gave Ram Dass his name, which means “servant of God.” Everything changed then – his intense dharmic life started, and he became a pivotal influence on a culture that has reverberated with the words “Be Here Now” ever since. Ram Dass’s spirit has been a guiding light for three generations, carrying along millions on the journey, helping free them from their bonds as he has worked his way through his own.

Since 1968, Ram Dass has pursued a panoramic array of spiritual methods and practices from potent ancient wisdom traditions, including bhakti or devotional yoga focused on the Hindu deity Hanuman; Buddhist meditation in the Theravadin, Mahayana Tibetan and Zen Buddhist schools, and Sufi and Jewish mystical studies. Perhaps most significantly, his practice of karma yoga or spiritual service has opened up millions of other souls to their deep, yet individuated spiritual practice and path. Ram Dass continues to uphold the boddhisatva ideal for others through his compassionate sharing of true knowledge and vision. His unique skill in getting people to cut through and feel divine love without dogma is still a positive influence on many, many people from all over the planet.

Ram Dass is a co-founder and advisory board member of the Seva Foundation (“seva” means “spiritual service” in Sanskrit), an international service organization. Seva supports programs designed to help wipe out curable blindness in India and Nepal, restore the agricultural life of impoverished villagers in Guatemala, assist in primary health care for American Indians, and to bring attention to the issues of homelessness and environmental degradation in the United States, along with other nations.

On February 19th 1997, Ram Dass suffered a near-fatal stroke, which left him paralyzed on the right side of his body and expressive aphasia limiting his ability to speak, along with other challenging ailments.

The after effects of the stroke have once again changed his life and vastly altered his day, but he has been able to resume teaching and continues to share and teach. In 2004, following a life threatening infection, Ram Dass was forced to curtail travel and focus on recovering his health.

Ram Dass now resides on Maui, where he shares satsang, kirtan, and where he can amplify the healing process in the air and waters of Hawaii. His work continues to be a path of teaching and inspiration to so many. The Internet is a new vehicle for Ram Dass to share his being at www.ramdass.org.

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