Beating the Odds of Climate Chaos

“Is climate changed happening to us or for us?” Paul Hawken asked at the Bioneers Conference this October. “If it’s happening to us, we’re victims. If it’s happening for us, we have the greatest impetus in human history to work together while connecting deeply to the needs of the planet that supports us.”

It is with this thinking in mind that the Singing Tree Project invites the whole world to create together, led by youth. The most recent collaboration, the Water Willow Singing Tree. was designed and prepared by students at Marin School of the Arts, in Novato, CA. Artists Teaching Art, a program of the Sausalito Arts Festival Foundation, funded my residency to facilitate the mural. Ten Digital Design students came up with studies of a tree on the earth in space, incorporating the theme of water.

Here’s Shannon Boorman’s (aged 16) brilliant digital design.

I put the different designs into a unified whole. Painting students created the 8′ x 16′ background. The Product Design class built the mural’s structure and laser cut the leaves and birds. The experience of collaboration across departments was exciting.

Here are some of the 35 painting students who added their mark to mural. People at the Bioneers Conference completed the mural by adding their wish for water on the leaves and birds. Ten students attended the Conference free of charge.

At Bioneers, singer Noe Venable of San Francisco and her family adds to the tree. Isa Twist points to his tear-drop leaf. He wrote “We can make a better future. The Time to act NOW!”

The Marin School of the Art’s students finished the mural by gluing the pieces on back at their school. Here’s some feedback from the students about the project.

“The painting flows like our creativity does. The painting IS water, in that way. I also appreciate how many people connected over this at the Bioneers conference.”

“As a group we did a fantastic job making all the pieces work together to making one giant painting.”

“I like this piece because it shows that the unity of the world starts with the protection of our world.”

“It gets people to think about the topic of water in a creative way.”

“This project brought something deep inside people up to the surface.”

“I like the new life in the center with possibilities branching off.”

When Anna Berzitskaya, who grew up in Moscow and now works with Judith Glaser in NYC, saw the image she wrote, “The meaning I get is that we live in such a beautifully designed place…we are connected with mother Nature through umbilical cord. We are given air to breathe, food to eat, all opportunities to enjoy life. The question is how we treat our mother in return.”

Beating the odds of climate chaos may unleash an unprecedented level of joyous invention and cooperation. Just look at what is possible when we work together. This is what democracy looks like. This is what Peace looks like.

The Odds Not Beaten

It is with heavy heart that I learned this week that one of my students from Helen S. Faison in Pittsburgh, PA, has been arrested for the murder of one of my other students. Two young lives lost. Two young men failed by our lack of village, the criminalized drug structure which fuels the underground market economy and doesn’t address addiction, the prison system without rehabilitation, the easy access to and glamorization of guns.

I wrote Deandre a letter:

Dear Deandre,

I’ve sent you a book written by a friend of mine who lost his 20 year-old son to a 14 year-old’s gun. The book is called From Murder to Forgiveness by Azim Khamisa.

I am thinking of you in this difficult time. I imagine you are in a state of post-traumatic stress disorder: from the loss of your friend at your own hand, from the loss of your freedom. I can’t imagine what you are going through. No matter what our legal system says, you are not a criminal. You are someone in a spiritual crisis.

I’m enclosing a copy of the painting I made of you 9 years ago with your words written below. You wrote “Being an angel is God calling me.” The streets shouted at you: This is the only way! The thug life style is strengthened in the hostile environment of prisoners and guards. The challenge to hear God’s call will be very hard.

From art class when you were in 5th grade, I remember your intelligence, your artistic talent, how easily your feelings were hurt, your love of sports and daring. This insanely traumatic moment in your life can open a window to taking a different path for your soul.

The 14 year-old who killed Azim’s son was tried as an adult. With spiritual work every day for 5 years, Azim forgave the young man. The young man has forgiven himself and will work with my friend when he gets out of prison with the Tariq Khamisa Foundation. The two will train young people in making non-violent choices. It’s hard. Most people think it’s impossible. Everyday, Azim does a good deed in his son’s name. He was not a great father, not very present in his son’s life. Now, he does what he can to stop young people from hurting each other.

My heart breaks for Garrick, for you and for all who love you both, which includes me.

The card I am sending you was made by a student. She let God’s call flow out of her onto the paper.

I pray you have moments of safety to listen to that call within you. I hold you in God’s Light, Deandre. Love, Ms. Laurie

This is very hard. How do these odds get beaten?

Community Matters – The Longing for Belonging

This is a collaborative drawing made by two high school Safe School Ambassadors and myself in Temple, Texas. For the last year, I’ve been a trainer for an amazing non-profit called Community Matters. Founded in 1996 by visionary educator Rick Philips, this organization makes COMMUNITY MATTER, crafting an evidence-based Safe School Ambassador Program that empowers elementary, middle and high school students to recognize mistreatment and transform it. I’ve travelled to Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Texas, South Carolina and throughout California to deliver a two-day training to students who are chosen by their peers as leaders. The teachers, who also participate in the training, meet with the students on a regular basis throughout the school year to support the real-life application of peace-making skills. I am honored to be a part of such an intelligent approach, which helps the students understand that the longing for belonging is the key to stopping exclusion and having the courage to stand up for justice.

Here is what high school students from Temple, Texas said about what they liked most about the training and what they learned:

I couldn’t believe the honesty and respect that we had for each other.

Just coming together and learning and becoming a group that is strong is what I loved.

I appreciated the togetherness with people that I typically would not get to know on a deep level.

I learned that I’m not alone and everyone has problems like me.

That the person who is getting hurt will hurt.

You can’t hate someone if you know their story.

The program shows us that we aren’t alone and how much of a difference we can make in our school.

It made us more aware of the internal battles our peers fight every day.

I learned to put up a putdown.

In order to help, you must first notice.

I learned how to be a ninja to stop mistreatment.

How to accept people for who they are and treat them how I wanna be treated.

The most important thing I got was how to stand up to an aggressor without being an aggressor.

This program has helped me a lot to be strong and ignore the people who bring me down. Thank you.

It was life-changing.

I hope this program thrives. I met new people I probably wouldn’t have if it weren’t for this program.

I really love this training to be an ambassador.

I’m so filled with knowledge and tools – I’m ready to take it to the world.

I wish everyone could do this program and show how they can use their skills positively.

I’ve changed in just two days.

When was the last time you heard students so deeply engaged in their learning? Empowering youth with emotional intelligence and impact is how we will beat the odds.