And The Weekly Blog Begins…

by | Mar 2, 2011 | * Making A Difference!!

Jackson simply said, “Shouldn’t we be trying to make a difference in the world”.  Now he’s learning that words and ideas are powerful things.  Not every idea sees the light of day, but this one had a certain spark that caught, and now we stand watching in amazement as it unfolds.  It’s really thrilling.  I have to say, I’m really proud of the fact that I have two sons who actually care about the world around them.

The planning process continues to be overwhelming at times.  I can’t begin to tell you how many days I can hardly get out of bed because the task just seems too daunting and frightful.  That’s when the belief your children have in you, is bigger than your own belief in yourself.  See, my kids continue to believe I can do great things…  they haven’t quite figured out I’m just a scared kid like them, who’s acting like a grown up because that’s my job.  I guess sometimes you just have to fake it ’til you make it… for the boys.

So let’s see… What’s been going on?  Well, besides meeting with Esther Benjamin of The Peace Corps who gave me great advice on planning this trip… To the wonderful guidance and support of Robert Shapiro, former principal economic adviser to Bill Clinton… To the support and friendship of Peter Cipkowski at Scholastic… I’ve just signed with a great literary agent, Steve Ross, who published Obama’s book – “The Audacity of Hope”.

We have received a grant from Wells Fargo/Wachovia Foundation. We have managed to meet with His Excellency Ambassador Joseph of Haiti, met with The Australian Embassy, had a beautiful e-mail from Yoko Ono, been interviewed by a number of magazines including Creative Loafing in Charlotte, been invited to appear on Fox News Rising, we’re being featured in The Whole Life Times in Los Angeles, yesterday had a phone meeting with the Foreign Policy Dept at The Clinton Foundation,  and just got off the phone with Janet and Fritz in Haiti at Dessaix-Baptiste Music School in Jacmel, where we will be staying and working in June of 2012.

Over the last few months we have organized an incredible group of friends who have worked tirelessly to help put this project together.  And I need to mention them…My dearest Kristina Haddad, Bo Henderson, R.A. Buck, Tony Lydgate, Robert Shapiro, David Kirkpatrick, Duncan Tucker, Bert Woodard, the wise and wonderful Lisa MacLeish, Rachel Woodhouse, Linda Britt, Lindsey Moser, Liz Branca, Jennifer Taylor, Mary & Mike Gutowski, Patrice D. Evans, Paige Hauff, Rebecca Thomason, Kathy Abernathy, Drew Grey, Michael Lightweaver, Francine Popkin, Sue Sandford, Wheelock Whitney… and that’s just to name a few.

Thanks for joining us on this extraordinary journey.  I’m so honored to be able to be part of this grassroots effort.  I know somehow we are going to make a difference.  Perhaps we’ll discover what it means to be a citizen of the world and a member of the human race… not separated by borders, belief systems, skin color, or political doctrine.  The possibilities are endless, don’t you think?