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.”

Read All of this Entry >

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.

Read All of this Entry >

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

Date: June 12-18

Host: Freedom in Creation & Alex Mejias

Location: Various

Venue: Various

Issue: Child Soldiers

A big thanks to Alex Mejias for passing this info along to me. Art therapy and art as a means of healing seem to be exploding everywhere, and this series of events sounds fantastic. Be sure to check out more on the Freedom in Creation website for more background on the organization, as well as the Freedom in Creation Tour website for more specifics and information on the tour itself. Here’s the run down:

Read All of this Entry >

Tags: Africa, Alex Mejias, Andrew Briggs, Art Exhibit, Art Therapy, Clean Water, Concert, Freedom in Creation, Kentucky, Tim Be Told, Uganda, Virginia

Date: June 12-18

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.

Read All of this Entry >

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