Live Peace with iSanctuary

Today is Saturday and you know what that means: highlighting an organization that is making Good Happen in our world.  Today we are Living Peace with iSanctuary, an organization that has been working to end human trafficking since 2007. Human trafficking is defined as the trade in humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery or forced labor. 

Image from iSanctuary.

iSanctuary rescues women of all ages from the world of human trafficking. They then have the chance to be brought to Orange County, California or Mumbai, India to learn and practice creating jewelry. The survivors are welcome to make mistakes, they are welcome to grow, and they are welcome to learn as they please. It is all about assisting the women in entering the professional world and giving them the confidence and the dignity they need. iSanctuary also helps to educate people about what human trafficking is and ways to help end it.

The beautiful hand-made jewelry is sold by iSanctuary  in select stores and online. iSanctuary is also having an online Mother’s Day sale!

If you are interested in helping end human trafficking, you are welcome to make a donation to iSanctuary. There are also other ways to get involved!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Live Peace with One Day Without Shoes

Every Saturday, we like to highlight an organization or movement that is making Good Happen! This week we are highlighting One Day Without Shoes, an awareness event sponsored by TOMS Shoes. Each year, ODWS asks people to go barefoot for one day to raise awareness of the impact something as small as a pair of shoes can make. This year’s is coming up on Tuesday, April 16th!

So why Peace + Shoes? Why are we going barefoot?

Peace takes many forms. Aside from the common definition of peace as the absence of war, it also can encompass a feeling of contentment within yourself or ensuring that people have access to the tools and resources they need to live life to the fullest. Shoes may be one specific issue area, but they affect many aspects of life including health, education, and future economic opportunities.

Check out highlights from last year’s event in the following video:

Join us at the Center for Living Peace on April 16th, 2013 from 10am-4pm as we celebrate One Day Without Shoes! Throughout the day, there will be various fun activities for all ages:

Style your Sole (canvas shoe painting) /// 11am-3pm

Bring a pair of canvas shoes to decorate during the Style Your Sole party! Order a pair of TOMS online, or find in store at places like Nordstrom. Any canvas shoes will work, whether TOMS, Vans, or Keds! Don’t have a pair of shoes to bring? We’ll give you a canvas flag to decorate!

Raffles on the hour /// 12pm until 3pm

Free Prizes with drawings throughout the day.

Barefoot Walk /// 3pm

Experience the world around you without shoes.

Plus music, refreshments, and interactive displays throughout the day!

We’re looking forward to a great day. Hope to see you there! Not in the area? Find events near you!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Live Peace with Light It Up Blue

This April 2nd is Light It Up Blue, a world-wide initiative that starts off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism. On this day, numerous landmarks, venues, buildings, homes and communities take part in this initiative and replace their regular lightbulbs with blue LED ones.

Watch the following video to learn more about Light It Up Blue, what others have done in support of the initiative, and how you can get involved in raising autism awareness!

Looking for a way to participate locally? The children’s museum Pretend City offers Family Autism Events monthly.

Get involved nationally by checking out the Tools & Resources at Light It Up Blue!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

A New Perspective

New things that have never been seen before can be revealed with just a change of perspective. This is the type of mindset that famous French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand held when he released his first documentary film, Home.

The film is a commentary of the impact that humans have on their cumulative home, Earth. What makes Home stand out is that it gives viewers a new look at their home, as the whole film is shot in an aerial perspective. With the film, Arthus-Bertrand shares his love and concern for the beautiful world. Interestingly, given the nature of the film, the whole production was carbon offset with sums of money that was paid towards providing people with clean energy. Below is the trailer that was released for the film:

The whole film was released by Arthus-Bertrand to the world for no cost, and it can be viewed on various video streaming websites.

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Solar Mamas – Why Poverty? Trailer

Happy Thursday! We recently saw this video describing Solar Mamas, a documentary that looks at the Barefoot College in India.

From the TED blog: “Solar Mamas is part of ‘Why Poverty?,’ a multimedia film festival featuring 30 short and 8 full-length movies from filmmakers across the globe. Produced by the nonprofit Steps International and funded in part by the Gates Foundation and Skoll Foundation, the series will air on TV channels around the world, as well as online, with the goal of reaching 500 million people.

‘Why Poverty?’ short films are being released all through November. Meanwhile, the initiative’s eight longer offerings will air beginning on November 25. Check WhyPoverty.net for the broadcast schedule to see when Solar Mamas is playing in your country.”

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Where’s My Romeo

Abbas Kiarostami‘s short film, Where’s My Romeo, shows the universal power of film, art, and poetry across cultures. It depicts Iranian women watching the final scene of Zeffirilli’s Romeo and Juliet . The film is part of “Chacun Son Cinéma” (To Each His Own Cinema), a collective film of 33 shorts directed by different directors about their feeling about Cinema.

Live peace by learning about other cultures and art around the world!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Live Peace with Half the Sky

Half the Sky is a movement focused on the adversity and opportunity surrounding women and girls worldwide. The book of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is the inspiration for the PBS documentary aired October 1st & 2nd. Whether you are looking to add to your reading  or viewing lists, Half the Sky is a great and powerful investment.

It will inspire, enrage, and encourage you at the same time. Such a short blog post can in no way encompass or convey the full message of the movement. So read or watch for yourself- it is well worth the time and effort.

Learn more about Half the Sky and how you can get involved at their website. If you missed the documentary screening, you can watch it on Netflix in the U.S. starting November 1st!

CLP staff showing their support of Half the Sky!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

International Day of the Girl

Today is first official International Day of the Girl! Declared  by the United Nations, the Day of the Girl highlights the immense potential of young girls worldwide.

“The UN General Assembly, which comprises all 193 members of the UN, voted that 11 October should be recognized as International Day of the Girl Child. This is an opportunity to address the unique challenges that girls face, promote girls’ rights and to highlight the gender equalities that still persist between girls and boys.

The UN has also decided to mark this inaugural celebration of girls’ potential by bringing attention to the plight of child brides. By choosing child marriage as its theme, the International Day of the Girl will draw international attention to activists’ work and government commitments, while also calling on world leaders to support programmes and laws to end child marriage.” – Girls Not Brides

Girls are valuable, strong, creative, powerful, and have such great potential. They deserve the chance to realize that potential. Empower girls and let them thrive.

Get involved! Learn more & find resources at:

Girls Not Brides /// Half the Sky /// The Girl Effect /// The Elders

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Live Peace with Playing for Change

Playing for a Change started out as a small project inspired to bring about peace through music by recording musicians all across the world with a mobile recording studio. The movement grew out of the belief that music has the power to unite people across all boundaries. Over 100 musicians have been recorded by the project. From these connections Playing for Change has created a touring band.  While recording, the project’s film crew was compelled to push the movement further by creating the Playing for Change Foundation to facilitate global music education. It’s mission is to ensure that anyone with the desire to receive a music education would have the opportunity to do so. The Foundation has started a music schools in Ghana,  South Africa, Rwanda, Mali ,and four schools in Nepal. The Foundation holds benefit concerts around the world on Playing for Change Day, September 22nd, to fund it’s music school program.

Playing for Change Musicians’s rendition of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song

Playing for Change’s website features videos from high profile artists like Bono and Manu Chao alongside street artists and community musical groups remixed to create a cohesive song. It regularly posts new episodes highlighting musicians and cultures all over the world as the project continues to expand its reach.

The Playing for Change crew has worked with musicians at these locations

You can support the movement by holding your own event or concert, volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Living Peace Series: A Day with Dr. Jane Goodall

This past Tuesday, October 2nd, we had the honor of hosting Dr. Jane Goodall of the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots and Shoots! We are thrilled that over 1,000 guests were able to hear Dr. Goodall’s wisdom at the speaking event in the UC Irvine Pacific Ballrooms. We wanted to share photos from the speaking event and the following VIP reception.

The live broadcast of this event will be available on our website for a limited time! Stay tuned for more details.

Chancellor Drake welcoming Dr. Goodall to the stage.

Dr. Goodall enthralling the crowd.

Dr. Goodall speaking to the audience of over 1,000 guests!

One of the giant peace doves from the Living Peace Projects flying at the front of the room.

Dr. Goodall greeting guests at the VIP reception following the speaking event.

Center for Living Peace staff members with Dr. Goodall.

Guests at the VIP reception.

Dr. Goodall and our founder Kelly Thornton Smith at the VIP reception.

Celebrating UCI Vice Chancellor Parham’s birthday!

Big thanks and gratitude to our lovely photographers: Alex Abercrombie and Jason Niedle. We also wanted to thank UCI, all the students, staff and faculty that came out to hear Dr. Goodall, Apples & Oranges for filming the speaking event and Orange County Films for streaming the event for us! And of course, a big thank you to all of the guests who joined us. We are so grateful to have such an amazing community helping us make peace real!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.