Issue: Various

Organization: eXile International

In the several months since painting live at a Falling Whistles event here in Denver, I’ve made several connections across the country with fantastic individuals working to end the more than 20-year war going on in the Congo, and the devastating effects it’s had on its people. I met Beth Haley through Facebook, who contacted me to ask the meaning behind my “There is Freedom in Story” piece, and had the honor of sitting down to coffee with her a few months ago when she passed through town.

Beth’s passions are evident. The instant connection and inspiration I felt in our conversation are sure to be the experience of all others who have the same privilege. Started over a year ago, Beth helped found an organization called eXile International, which “exists to instill hope, healing, and love to the trauma victims of Africa by providing trauma counseling, art therapy programs and by teaching peace, reconciliation and conflict resolutions skills.”

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Tags: Africa, ALARM, Art Therapy, Beth Haley, Child Soldiers, Conflict Resolution, Congo, Counseling, eXile International, Falling Whistles, Trauma

Issue: Various

Organization: The Mwelu Foundation

I am exceedingly honored this week to be posting the story of Julius Mwelu. Julius’ story came to me through Sarah Parker, a mutual friend though a former graduate school classmate of mine, Mackenzie Berg. Sarah follows Mackenzie’s own blog, where Mackenzie had made mention of some happenings here at social he(art), and I’m thankful to Sarah for following up (especially given that her internet connection in Kenya is extremely poor).

Mackenzie and myself have both spent considerable time researching participatory documentary photography projects, like those found through Kids with Cameras (featured in the well-known documentary, Born into Brothels), and The Rwanda Project, which encourage locals (particularly children in these cases), to use photography as a means by which to tell their own stories and show their world from their own, personal perspectives. So, given my own heart for participatory photography, I am absolutely thrilled to have been introduced to Julius Mwelu and his organization, The Mwelu Foundation.

Julius lives in Kenya, where he uses his photography to reach out to and work on several issues, including displaced persons, orphans, street children, poverty, education, and political violence. Below is his amazing story; let it inspire you.

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Tags: Africa, Displaced People, Education, Kenya, Mathare Slum, Mwelu Foundation, Orphaned Children, Photography, Political Violence, Politics, Poverty, Shootback, Street Children, Videography

Issue: Various

Organization: Various

I continue to be amazed by all the stories that keep coming in from all of you. I hope you’ve all enjoyed hearing the stories of others using their art to affect some kind of positive change. This week, I’m featuring Julie Fordham, an artist that stumbled upon my blog recently and has been an incredible encouragement and has passed several other names along to me that I hope to feature in the future.

I encourage you to check out her blog, which can be found by clicking here, or taking a further look at some of her art, which is posted on her Deviant Art page. Julie considers herself a mixed media collage artist, and says, “I use whatever I can get my hands on.” (That’s the spirit…)

Julie says she’s passionate about so many things, but her art is focused on depression, suicide, self injury, and eating disorders. She’s got a great heart, and shared this story on her art with me:

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Tags: Art is the Cure, Art Therapy, Depression, Eating Disorders, heart support, Julie Fordham, Self Injury, Suicide, To Write Love on Her Arms, TWLOHA

Issue: Various

Organization: Blood:Water Mission

A few years ago, when the beauty of social networking really began to take hold, I stumbled onto Virb. As I spent hours pouring through the countless numbers of photographers, artists, writers, and other brilliant minds on the site (when I most likely should have been working), I ran across someone by the name “Pope Saint Victor.” Around that same time, I’d seen an overwhelming amount creativity spilling out of (what I refer to as) “the incomparable” Nashville, Tennessee, and Victor Huckabee happened to be one of them. In the last few years, I’ve somewhat silently kept watch of his unique work, imaginative illustrative style, and warm photography, and really took notice when I found out he landed a job at Blood:Water Mission. That being said, he was one of the artists at the forefront of my mind when I started this site, not only for his social justice background and experience, but because he seemed to be pushing creativity forward in what used to be a blandly-designed non-profit world.

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Tags: Africa, Blood:Water Mission, Clean Water, HIV/AIDS, Jars of Clay, Nashville, Pope Saint Victor, Tennessee, Virb, Youth With a Mission

Issue: Child Soldiers

Organization: Food For the Hungry & Discover the Journey

I was introduced to Lindsay Branham’s photogrphy at an event for Falling Whistles a few months ago when I painted a piece of artwork live at an event here in Denver. Lindsay’s work is nothing short of stunning.

Using photography, writing, and documentary film, Lindsay works with both Food for the Hungry and Discover the Journey, speaking out against the war in Congo and speaking on behalf of child soldiers.

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Tags: Child Soldiers, Congo, Discover the Journey, Falling Whistles, Food for the Hungry, Lindsay Branham, Paix Tshirt, Photography, War Crimes

Issue: Various

Organization: Falling Whistles

A few months ago, I painted artwork live at an event for Falling Whistles, where the piece I painted ended up on Facebook. Somehow, in a move of social media magic, Ty Clark and I were “web introduced,” and I fell in love with his work. Turns out, he was showing at an event for Falling Whistles only a couple weeks later. Ty is CEO and founder of Veritas Fashion, a non-profit organization created to support humanitarian efforts worldwide through every form of art out there.

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Tags: Blog, Falling Whistles, Invisible Children, Painting, Sculpting, Spray Paint, TOMS Shoes, Ty Clark