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A creative blog by Lisa Schultz on The Whole 9

Lisa Schultz has spent a lifetime observing the human parade. Now at the helm of The Whole 9 and The Peace Project, she reports in on her findings and asks that you join in.

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Mission Accomplished

January 10, 2012
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On December 31st, I spent more than a few minutes  thinking about the fact that much of Iraq was celebrating the final withdrawal of U.S. troops after a “war” that started on March 19, 2003.  On May 1, 2003, George Bush declared that our mission in Iraq was “accomplished”.

Over eight years later, trillions spent, billions of dollars of equipment sent by the U.S. and paid for by taxpayers “missing”, millions of Iraqis displaced, 100,000+ dead, immeasurable psychological damage to soldiers and civilians, infrastructure devastated, their economy (and ours) in ruins, we finally left the people of Iraq to clean up the mess we had made.

Earlier today while showing someone a video by two incredible poets, Steve Connell and Sekou, I came across this video that Steve did several years ago about this amazing deception.

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eastsider

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

Martin Luther King, Jr

elizawyatt

How terribly sad this makes me feel, when we walk away from a mess we’ve
made and which we’re helpless to unmake.

awaken2sun

@eliza…we’re not helpless to unmake it. We just have to be willing to put a fraction of the time and money into building something as we are into destroying something.

shelleyme

I was privileged to be one of millions around the world who joined in the February 15, 2003 anti-war protests expressing opposition to the then-imminent Iraq War. At that time, I felt wildly optimistic that collectively we could make a difference. Jesse Jackson speaking at the London demonstration I attended said, “We must choose peace.” The British police said it was the UK’s biggest ever anti-war demonstration! After a weekend high on optimism, the then British Deputy Prime Minister broadcast to the nation, early on Monday morning 17 Feburary, 2003 that Britain would be joining the US-led coalition to invade Iraq. I can still recall the sinking feeling in my heart. But in light of the horrific tragedy that has come to pass, now is not the time for hand-wringing or “I told you so”…but more an opportunity to examine what we can do individually, and as a community, to help facilitate world peace.

Step away from the dial.

December 14, 2011
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If you know me, you know that I’m an ardent believer that less is more in regards to television.  Despite a complete lack of television in my life, I always manage to entertain myself, get the news I need, and most importantly, form my own opinions. That said, it still amazes me how media (television, newspapers, magazines, etc.) seeps in.  Images that we’re not even conscious of being exposed to become indelibly printed on our consciousness.  Click here to visit the website of a friend, Frank Meo, and see how he illustrates this with a series of words that evoke very clear pictures of moments in time.

Like many of you, I have a pretty vivid mental image of Palestine and Palestinians — and it’s not particularly pretty.  Yassar Arafat is at the forefront of this — painted always as intractable, uncooperative, argumentative.  Suicide bombings and violence live beside this image.

When you delve into the history of the region, it’s impossible not to form a different viewpoint.  To wonder how, in modern times, an entire people can be stripped of their land.  And then be reviled for fighting to regain it.  Fighting with tanks because you’ve got money and might is considered war — acceptable and righteous.  Fighting with bare hands because you’ve had everything taken away is considered terrorism — lowly and inhumane.

Today, one of my Facebook friends, Moayad Naquib, shared a video showing Palestine before 1948. It was probably one of the most startling videos I’ve ever seen because it painted a picture of Palestine that was completely opposite of the one that I’ve come to know through what I’ve seen in the media.

Part of the journey towards Peace is learning about the world around us, dispelling myths, finding your own truth, looking at things in a different way.  I invite you to take a look at this video and comment about how the Palestine you see in it differs from the one you’ve seen in your mind’s eye for most of your life.

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celestevoce

It’s so complicated because you can also argue that the Jews have had their land taken from them over and over again too. The first step toward peace is not about claiming land, it’s about living together and respecting differences. Oh and not letting crazy dictators kill millions of people because of their religious identification thus practically forcing the world to take away someone else’s land to attempt at some kind of reparation for that persecution.

shelleyme

Lisa, after reading your blog and seeing the video a couple of times, the words: ‘Too much beautiful?’ sprang to mind. Present day and latter day Palestine might be summed up simply as Grief and Beautiful.

The primary aim of modern-day commercial news media is to present the narrowest one-dimensional point of view to the greatest number of viewers. Have us all thinking along the same lines; buying into the same notch on the spectrum…even if the only way to comprehend anything greater than the ‘narrow gauge’ is to peel back the layers until you reveal The Source.

But who has the time, the interest, or the access…to find out the heart of truth of the matter — about any and every ‘contested place on earth’.

Perhaps now is the time for us to consider this — for own survival?

This land on Earth (on which we live temporarily) does not to belong to any of us; we are merely caretakers of this planet. But to respect each other’s human rights and dignity regardless of who got ‘there first’, might be the most valuable approach to adopt on the road to World Peace One Day.

And no I’ve never seen Palestine like this before. In a matter of minutes the myths that I had about Palestine were reversed — thanks to being shown the truth to awaken me.

Thank you so much!

ckay

Thank you Lisa for sharing this.

It Takes a Village.

November 11, 2011
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Although it was only months ago since I wrote this blog about gratitude, recently it has felt like years, and occasionally an entire lifetime.  Operation Rise was tough, but not as tough as coming down from Operation Rise and finding that our work with this initiative is not yet done — there are crutches that still need to be delivered because thousands of the people who need them the most simply were not able to scrape together the money (or the mobility) to visit one of our eight distribution sites on World Peace Day.  Thousands of crutches that require money to get them into the hands of people in the most remote areas of Sierra Leone.  Money equals fund-raising and fund-raising equals time — hours that needs to be found within the days of a tiny team led by myself that includes the tireless and patient Heidi Huber and the-ever accomodating Nora Martin-Hall, both of them only working part time and also helping to run TheWhole9.com as well as Gallery 9.

By the grace of whichever God you believe in, we have come unbelievably far in just over a years time — mobilizing:

  • Thousands of people to donate money with amounts starting as low as $1
  • Over 1,000 artists to submit art to our two Peace Project Calls for Artists and then grant us the rights to use this artwork to raise funds for The Peace Project.
  • Four musicians to donate usage to their songs to raise funds for The Peace Project.
  • Nearly 500 people in Sierra Leone to help distribute the crutches on World Peace Day.
  • Hundreds of individuals and organizations to donate product and services — including Sherman Gallery (which once again donated framing for our the photography portion of our traveling art exhibit) and American Easel which donated the panels for the art exhibit.
  • Organizations including VIVA LA ART! and Saatchi LA that organized fundraisers on behalf of The Peace Project.

We’ve also mounted two traveling art exhibits, created two books (see and purchase both by clicking here), fund-raised in countless ways that included sending out dozens of invitations, producing at least 10 events, coordinating hundreds of people to help with these events, shot and created videos, redesigned TheWhole9.com, and just recently (in a record two weeks time), completely demo’ed an existing retail shop at 3830 Main Street in Culver City, designed a new gallery space, built it out and moved in so that we could host the opening event for Peace Rises at this location on October 22nd.

Can you say “Phew?!”  I can.  And have…many times.  Sometimes as an exclamation of exhaustion, sometimes a proclamation of relief.  Because every day, there are people here in Los Angeles and around the world that say “yes” to doing things they probably would rather not because they believe in this mission called The Peace Project.  Last night was such a night as publicist Laurence Cohen flew back in from a long business day in Las Vegas and then escorted me to a fundraiser that started at 10:30pm in hopes of introducing me to the head of Cirque du Soleil, who started a foundation that funds water projects (one of our yet-to-be-formally-announced initiatives for The Peace Project).  But Laurence is just one of the people who has recently worked tirelessly to help — there are so many others including ckay who accompanied me (driving her own car that carried all of our artwork) up to Oakland, donated four days of her time (not including all of the other time she’s recently donated), and not only promoted The Peace Project constantly, but also was a champ in helping to set up and tear down the exhibit, pick up items for our silent auction and even solicit last minute items to add to the mix.  Oh…did I forget to mention that she’s also carting all of our artwork down to Long Beach later today to help with an exhibit down there?

DJ worldOnelove has been another tireless supporter , saying yes (actually HELL YEAH!) every single time he’s been asked including on Wednesday when he worked all day at El Cerrito High School and then carted all of his equipment and several boxes of CDs out to Swarm Gallery to set up, play, tear down, drive home and unpack.  All for free.

Change is good, but it’s also hard.  And usually it’s not glorious.  There is no fanfare and there are often moments when near-disabling despair is your partner.  I’ve learned many things over the past year — the importance of stamina and continuing to put one foot in front of the other and keep your eye on the finish line which you often cannot see.  I’ve learned the importance of unshakable faith.  But perhaps most, I’ve learned the importance of gratitude.

Gratitude is what binds us together.  It’s what lifts me and keeps me going when despair comes knocking on my door.  My personal journey includes trying to focus on people like ckay and DJ worldOnelove and Sherry Rand and Sal Sinare and Paul Bildsoe and Liz Beckman and Shawn Riley and Charles Hopkins and Rosendo and all of the countless others who contribute so much…instead of focusing on those that say they want to, and truly they may, but ultimately they don’t.

It takes a village to change the world.  Thanks to all of those that have, for one moment (or many) been part of ours.

Through creativity and community, we can change the world.


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smokinjoe

This is almost beyond amazing. The video was inspiration enough. I’ve never seen something more beautiful, the joy and what these crutches mean when someone gets a them to the beautiful people you met in Sierra Leone. Maybe the Peace corps volunteers in that country can do some distribution. I don’t think anyone could have done anything to bring such joy to someone. Congratulation Lisa and Heidi and Michelle and everyone who helping in Operation Rise. I hope the documentary gets an Oscar too!

yetta56

Well there is nothing like a mission girl! And you have answered the call. We should all be so lucky to have the guts to respond to that which is inside ourselves telling us to do something, do something, do something!

How much money is actually needed to help? I know people. People know people. People have a lot to give if they know exactly what the amount is that is needed.

awaken2sun

Laurie…thanks so much. We need about $20,000 to get the remainder of the crutches out to people who couldn’t come to the distribution sites on World Peace Day. I’ll reach out to you directly here as well — and hopefully will meet you at our closing event this coming Saturday in Los Angeles?

shelleyme

Ɛvribɔdi bɔn fri
All human beings are born free. Thank you Lisa for this journey.

Thousands of Voices.

September 26, 2011
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Growing up and coming of age, I wrote copiously, using written words to not only capture the moments of my life, but also to interpret them – the journeys that I took, the people I met, what I saw, new love, hope, heartache…  And then one day in my early twenties, I stopped, the words somehow just out of reach.

There are so many moments in my life that I’ve forgotten, but oddly enough one seemingly insignificant one that took place close to 20 years ago, is still vivid in my memory.  “You used to write a lot?”  I remember a stranger asking while he held my hand gently in his, gazing down at it and tracing the lines along my palm.  I looked at him in surprise as he gently told me “You need to write again.”

Somehow the years passed since then and although my life has been incredibly full, I never quite found the words (or the time) again.  Last year, on my first trip to Sierra Leone, something magical took place – the words came rushing back and through this blog, I’ve been able to share this incredible journey of transformation and discovery with you – and in return, you’ve been able to share with me.  This shared experience has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

As we approached World Peace Day (and Operation Rise) and fatigue grew as myself and our team experienced what it’s like to implement an effort of this size in Africa, my resolve to share the miracles that were happening because of what we were creating together never wavered.  In fact, after less than a few hours sleep and the incredible stress that came with knowing that we two of our distribution sites had not receive their crutches at 2am the morning of World Peace Day, I woke up, got to work with faith that all would be okay and posted a blog – determined to keep everyone apprised of how things were unfolding throughout the day.

But along the way, Sierra Leone happened. The chaos, uncertainty and the unimaginable difficulties in doing business the way we’ve become accustomed to in the West happened.  I came back to the dumpy Hill Valley Hotel around 7pm on World Peace Day and amongst power outages and the lightning storm that caused them, tried six times to upload photos and information about Operation Rise.  And six times the internet connection failed.

Amazing to think that one woman could feel so defeated, but at the moment when I most wanted to deliver, I simply could not.  I couldn’t share with you what I saw, the happy smiles, the people that hobbled up and walked away straighter, those that walked up with the worst homemade crutches you can imagine and left with shiny new Invacare crutches.

And in the days since, all of the emotions that go along with everything that I’ve done and seen in the past year — all of the incredibly long days, the hope, the despair, the stress, the joy, the sorrow – all of it, has come crashing in and I’ve numbly moved from meeting to meeting, unable at the end of the day to do more than tend to my son, Tejan, who badly needed my time and attention.

I couldn’t share something that was even deeper and more profound – the healing as on the grounds where amputees were originally “herded” to in Aberdeen – one of the first amputee refugee camps that has been steeped in loss and sorrow – but on World Peace Day experienced joy and the rebirth of hope as lives were changed and people laughed, joined hands, and danced to songs including Caravan of Love, one of the $2 music downloads that helped fund this effort.

Musa Mansaray, one of the Amputee Soccer League that was assigned to work at the Aberdeen site (the Amputee Soccer League provided peace-keeping services at all eight distribution sites countrywide), smiled brightly when talking about Operation Rise “Everything that happened — it was so good.  It made me feel good to see everything.  I felt so proud because I told everyone that we would be giving away crutches for free.  They didn’t believe me.  Now they know I’m a man of my word.”

Believe me when I say that I wish that all of you had been here beside me – I know that you too would have been incredulous, amazed, and joyful as you witnessed the following:

  • All sites being set up and handing out crutches near the designated start time of 9am, including the two sites that didn’t have their crutches delivered until 7am.  This is a testament to the real heroes of Operation Rise – the men and women in Sierra Leone who work tirelessly day after day, many for free and even the most skilled for less than $10 USD per day, to bring hope and new life to those suffering disabilities here.  These include men like Pastor Freeman Taylor, Abu Amara, Dr. Prince Masuba, Musa Mansaray in Bo, as well as Bambino Suma and Eku Scottland who stayed up all night waiting for their deliveries that contained hundreds of boxes of crutches and repair parts that needed to be organized and sorted before the event began.  It’s hard to understand that doing a simultaneous distribution like this is nothing short of miraculous until you experience Sierra Leone for yourself and hear shock about this achievement from every single person you speak to.
  • People walking in the streets with their new crutches and Operation Rise wristbands – many whom I’ve stopped to speak with who express just how happy they are to have new crutches – the single most important tool in their daily lives.
  • Those without new crutches who I’ve seen on the streets and stopped to talk with and subsequently directed to go and pick them up.  Their smiles testament to the incredible difference your gift makes in their lives.

Of course, there are also other things you would have witnessed that would have left you just as exasperated as I, including:

  • Writing a speech for the World Peace Day Press Conference late on Tuesday night, feeling like it was the best chance to really get people to understand how unique this collaboration between TheWhole9.com, The Peace Project, our partners including UNICEF, other donors that included the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association, and the people of Sierra Leone.  And then realizing that I didn’t have a way to print the speech.  Having filmmaker Michele come to the rescue by getting one of the filmmaking team to print it, and then having that person rush up 10 minutes before the Press Conference with a copy I didn’t have a chance to read through.
  • Despite weeks of instruction and planning, realizing that to many in Sierra Leone, implementing an event like Operation Rise in a systematic way is foreign.  In Aberdeen, Invacare’s Dave Zuern, was a true hero, helping to get everything set up and then manning the crutch distribution, smiling over his own exhaustion and doling out product and the repairs parts he had secured from his company for free.
  • Standing in front of the Peace Wall (painted by Gabriel Kamara), and giving my heartfelt speech only to have it unexpectedly start raining.  After we all rushed for cover and then resettled, I laughingly joking that not only had I learned a lot about Peace from the people of Sierra Leone, I had also learned a lot about flexibility, and just then, DJ Base (who was providing tunes at Aberdeen) pumped up the volume, and I had to stop and then start my speech for the third time.
  • The fact that the modem that would enable me to upload pictures during the day never showed up.

All of this faded into insignificance though as I started receiving reports from across the country:

  • Bo — Edward Bockarie, leader of CAPS (our main logistical parner), reported:  “It was beautiful and peaceful.  Musa Mansaray and his team were incredibly organized.”
  • Kenema — Joseph Kange, from CAPS, who stayed up with Eku Scottland most of the night waiting for the product, reported in at 6:06pm: “We have just completed distribution.  It was incredible and fantastic.  It was the same according to reports from other provincial areas.”
  • Kono – Abu Amara:  “The World Peace Day is ended.  Assignment accomplished despite a rainy and challenging day.  Thanks for all your efforts.  Sierra Leoneans appreciate you.  A lot of amazing videos and photos captured on this World Peace Day symbolizing PEACE & HOPE amidst the challenges. They will make you laugh and LAUGH & LAUGH!!”
  • Makeni – Bambino Suma:  “It was truly a great day.  We had musical performances and an Amputee Soccer Match.”

I was also pleased to spend some time speaking with the U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Michael Owen, who visited the Aberdeen site, and according to the State Department’s Bruno Sanchez (another good man who also believes that incredible change is possible in Sierra Leone and who works hard every day to make it happen) “I’ve heard only good reports from Ambassador Owen and the team here.  They were proud to come out and support what you’re doing.”

In minutes I’ll be touching down in Los Angeles and rushing home to hug my daughter (who I miss so much my heart hurts).  As I think about the last year and this incredible journey that you and I have been on, all I feel is gratitude.

Last year, I saw the photos of Pep Bonet and began this incredible dream called dream called The Peace Project.  This year, with Pep’s comrade Sergi Agusti and a whole team of others including Mohamed Njai, Dave Zuern, Jeremy Fokkens, and Michele D’Acosta at my side, the dream was realized through Operation Rise.

Each person reading this has been part of bringing us to this day.  Know that around the world, there are thousands of voices, both loud and quiet, that join mine in thanking you.

NOTE:  Operation Rise will continue taking it to the streets in Sierra Leone as there were thousands of people that were not physically or financially able to make it to one of the distribution sites on World Peace Day.  If you have been planning to donate, we still very much need your help to get the crutches to these people by having our partners reach out to the communities surrounding their distribution sites.  Please click here to donate now.

Also…see a few stories about Operation Rise in the news:

KTLA

Los Angeles Times

CBS Moneywatch.com

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celieann

I could hardly read this blog through the tears of joy that kept flooding my eyes. I am so very moved by your vision, your actions, your words and the success of Operation Rise. The seemingly impossible is possible with the right ingredients–thank you Operation Rise team! You are an inspiration to the world!

joann

Thanks for giving World Peace Day a new and deeper meanng and a reason to truly celebrate. You have demonstrated that through giving and doing you can make a difference and that is worth celebration in itself. What an amazing team you had to work with. Bravo

sorchae

Wow. This is one effort that brings truth to what the Dalai Lama said…”The world will be saved by the western woman.” :)

rosendo

The road is long…

…but it just got a hell of a lot more manageable~

Peace and Light~

lynnbridget

What an amazing experience. Lisa, you are truly inspiring. I can hardly imagine the hours of organization and coordination leading up to such an event. To think of the career of you had as a marketing professional, and now, here you are being called to serve Sierra Leone. It really blows my mind. If only each of us could have the courage to be so generous with our life, what a difference we would see in the world.

How’d it go yesterday???

September 22, 2011
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Hi TW9 Members!  This is Heidi coming to you in Lisa’s absence.  I’ve received many emails and calls from people asking how it went yesterday and how Lisa is doing so I wanted to shoot out a quick update until Lisa can post a more in-depth blog.

Yesterday’s text to me said that it was raining like mad and the internet was down, however the day was amazing, the teams at the different distribution sites did an amazing job, and the crutches got out to those in need.  Lisa said, “I wish that all of you could have been here with me to hear the joy from people who received new crutches yesterday.  Comments included, ‘Thank you for giving me a new foot.’”

Here are just a few photos from yesterday in Sierra Leone.  Also, check out the LA Times article that came out yesterday as well as a piece on the news station, KTLA.  Very exciting!

LA Times Article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-…

KTLA: http://tinyurl.com/3w7ldvg

A photo courtesy TW9 Member and Canadian Photographer, Jeremy Fokkens.

Televised Press Conference.

Recipients lined up at the Aberdeen Distribution Site.

Quite the capable helper!

The elation of RISING UP!

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bethanyjordan

That last photo is priceless!

noramartinhall

SO COOOOOL!!!

tiffanydavisrustam

Wonderful! Seeing the pics from the recipients of the crutches certainly brings tears to my eyes!

elizawyatt

The story unfolds and is more gripping than anything I’ve seen on the screen.

celestevoce

The KTLA story turned out so well! Congratulations, Lisa! (Also, you’re looking amazing given how tired you must be with all this.)

Reporting Live from Sierra Leone!

September 20, 2011
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It’s a beautiful day in Sierra Leone and last minute preparations are currently in place across the country.

Before the day gets any older, I’d like to thank the real heroes of this project:  the men and women of this country who have inspired me.  And you.  And who have moved mountains to make this incredible day happen.  Together we will rise!

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agodoy

Have a great day! Excited for you and all the great people you’re connecting with.

joann

Rise and Shine Sierra Leone and congratulations Lisa and Heidi for taking us on this journey!

theredhead

Excited to see additional posts as connection permits!

charles

Truly hoping that this day will be nothing less than totally SCURPLE for you and everyone there in Sierra Leone!!!

rosendo

Good Morning Sierra Leone!!

Peace and light to all those rising this very special and glorious day!!

Five More Days…

September 18, 2011
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It’s dark and starry night, Thursday, September 15, 2011, and I have a strange feeling of peace enveloping me while Tejan’s warm head presses against my leg on the car seat as he lays sleeping after another 3 very long days of “whatever it takes” here in Sierra Leone.

Mohamed, a native Sierra Leonean now living in Maryland whom I met in February when I made an unexpected trip to Kabala to find Tejan and Bekiss, tirelessly pilots the vehicle — perhaps from that very first meeting destined to be an important member of The Peace Project’s “Whatever it Takes” team.  Sitting beside him Wizzy talks quietly — odd for this outspoken advocate of Sierra Leone’s Amputee Soccer League who has spent the last ten years doing “Whatever it takes”(and a lot of loud talking) to show the world that this group of men truly are Ambassadors for Peace.

Wizzy who set out earlier today to organize the Amputee Soccer League’s peace-keeping services at all eight Operation Rise distribution sites, called me while we were approaching Bo – the very last of the eight sites spread out over the entire country that Mohamed, Tejan and I visited.  “I heard you were coming this way – can you give me a ride back to Freetown?”  This completely unexpected and random 7pm request to pick Wizzy up roadside for a 100 mile drive home best illustrates the ease with which people make things happen in a country that feels incredibly chaotic when you first arrive, but assumes some strange kind of illogical order once you’ve been here awhile.

We began our cross-country trek on Tuesday, first paying a stop at the orphanage in Grafton to obtain permission to film there on Saturday for a KTLA segment that will run on World Peace Day and then a viewing of the distribution site in Grafton where we were again reminded of the critical need for crutches and crutch tips.

From there, we made a brief stop in Port Loko where the lead, Pastor Freeman, greeted us warmly, well prepared for World Peace Day, extremely appreciative of Operation Rise and excited about joining hands with people around the world.

We then stopped in Makeni to meet Bambino Suma who runs the Rehabilitation Unit at Makama Hospital and Melvina Koroma from Women of Hope.  Bambino, another bright eyed, wide-smiled Sierra Leonean who moves mountains every day, patiently waited for me to finish my pep talk and then he shared details of the sensitization they’re doing in their area (alerting stakeholders and beneficiaries of their plans) and boldly stated that they planned to have the best-organized and most exciting event in the country – starting with a human parade at 8am on World Peace Day.   (HELL YEAH!!!)

Smilingly, we left, really feeling for the first time the energy and excitement surrounding Operation Rise – luckily this rush carried us through seven brain-jarring hours to Kono where we arrived too late to find anything to eat – all of us weary after a 14 hour day that included little other than a few Clif Bars to eat.

Up early the next morning, we paid the folks at Kono a visit, running into some of our partners from Handicap International and up against yet another person whose excitement surrounding Operation Rise is palpable.  Following this, we quickly rethought our plans to return to Freetown to pick up Michele and Dave as the roads were far worse than we imagined.  After tracking down a modem for a brief internet connection and sending out a few urgent emails about how to re-sort the crutches in the event our second container didn’t clear Customs in time, we continued on, Mohamed uncomplaining behind the wheel and in front of us a motorcyclist from our main logistical partner CAPS leading the way as there were no road signs and gulp, nearly 8 hours of bad road to shake, rattle and roll across until we reached Kailahun and Laurence Scott, another CAPS employee and our Peace Project lead at the Kailahun site.  Smilingly, Laurence joined us for dinner and then as Mohamed, Tejan and I walked tiredly to our rooms at 10pm, Laurence told us he’d see us at 8am the next morning – another man stepping up to the “Whatever it Takes” plate.

After working through Kailahun’s site and logistics plan the next morning, we pulled out of Kailahun, hopeful for a smooth trip to Kenema.  Although the weather held, the roads held only bad news and nearly 5-1/2 hours later we were greeted by one of the most inspirational people I’ve met in Sierra Leone – Eku Scottland.  A severely afflicted polio survivor, Eku pilots a crazy hybrid between a wheelchair and a cart – seemingly tireless as he somehow manages to run the Opportunity Center for polio survivors (probably bringing home less than $5USD a day), raise three children, and take on projects like Operation Rise that he’s not being compensated for.  Add to that no indoor plumbing, kitchen or laundry facilities and you begin to wonder how you ever thought life in the United States (or anywhere else in the western world) is hard.

After viewing the storeroom, sorting out the distribution plan, and meeting with town dignitaries, we set out for Bo where we met another beautiful and inspirational man, Musa Mansaray.  Musa confidently took us through his plan for the day and then joined us for a quick dinner before we headed out at 7pm, picking up Wizzy at the side of the road.

Friday found Dave Zuern and I meeting with Theo Gbenda, DJ Base and a photographer at Hill Valley Hotel before grabbing our first meal of the day at 1pm while Michele exhausted all options (and herself) trying to find an internet connection where we could send out some video and photos on World Peace Day.  The day continued for Dave and I with a trip to our Freetown distribution site where Gibriel Kamara (who on Wednesday delivered 200 screen-printed t-shirts in less than 48 hours) was priming the Peace Wall in preparation for a new mural.  Dave and I then returned to Hill Valley and sorted all the event binders, counted out t-shirts, wristbands, Peace Circles, Operation Rise banners, data collection forms, and big stacks of cash for each of our 8 distribution sites, and followed this up with three meetings and finally some dinner before exhaustion had all of us crawling into bed.

Saturday came early as Joseph from CAPS joined us for a final pre-event meeting and collected all the materials he would personally deliver to the six sites outside of Freetown.  Michele and I then set off with Mohamed and Tejan to Grafton where we joined our partners for a Townhall meeting and then went to Melrose Kamara’s orphanage where we distributed three pairs of crutches to the children there and filmed a segment on KTLA.  During a very long drive back to our hotel, we took a detour to find some bamboo for the peace flags we’ll fly at our Freetown distribution site, and then had a very slow lunch, a very short nap and dinner at the house of the head of UNICEF Sierra Leone, Mahimbo Mdoe where everyone except me drank copiously.  Prior to calling it an early night (11:30pm), I managed to secure Mahimbo’s commitment to get someone at UNICEF to upload the KTLA video on Sunday that miracle-worker Michele was busily editing.

Sunday found Michele and I actually having some coffee before I headed off to meet our Peace Children, talk about a proposed micro-loan program with their parents, meet DJ Base and the person who will handle the sound system, have an on-the-fly meeting with several of Isaiah Washington’s trusted Sierra Leonean brothers — one who offered to help set up some meetings with some of Sierra Leone’s most influential ministers that I could talk with about our next big initiative, and another who agreed to get some PVC pipes, stakes and a sledghammer (the other requisite items for the Peace Flags).  A meeting with Wizzy to discuss final plans for the amputee soccer league’s participation in World Peace Day followed, and then a quick dinner meeting with another NGO that focuses on wells and sanitation, and now here I am writing this blog with my eyelids propped open at 11:30pm while Michele gets the KTLA video uploaded at UNICEF, and Sergi and Jeremy Fokkens (who arrived tonight) are hopefully getting some sleep in preparation for another busy day tomorrow.

And that my friends is another five days of “Whatever it Takes” in Sierra Leone.

Through creativity and community (and coffee), we will change the world.

(NOTE:  More photos forthcoming…)

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dangerousideas

Un-freakin-believable! I’m exhausted just reading about one of your days. You ARE a miracle worker. Wishing you all good luck. Marcel

judith

All is can say is, wow! I am breathless after reading your account…..Your bottomless well of energy, your ability to find & mobilize the right people and keep “all the balls in the air” at the same time is amazing. I’m sending extra good vibes on that additional case of crutches clearing customs in time for the big day! Take care.

eastsider

I hope they have good, strong coffee over there. Rock on!

sorchae

Wow. Rock on, and I send good vibes to the coffee gods for you :)

charles

Lisa Schultz is THE MAN!!!
:)

Whatever it takes.

September 12, 2011
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I’ll admit it — I’ve spent most of my 25 year professional career hoping for the best and planning for the worst.  Handling very expensive marketing programs where you have one chance to get it right for clients that aren’t interested in excuses.  It’s this experience and perspective that I believe gives myself and The Peace Project an edge in places like Africa where there is often a desire on the part of aid workers to assess, evaluate, plan and then get to work and then at the end of it all, do some more assessing, evaluating and it seems, possibly more back-patting than the results warrant.

In this sea of caution, I feel like a cowboy that more than one person has heard utter “People are crawling on the ground — it’s pretty obvious they need crutches.  The result?  They’ll be walking.  I don’t need no study to tell me that!”

Needless to say, I’ve been the recipient of a few raised eyebrows that others haven’t tried all that hard to hide. ;-)

It became apparent today that there is a hell of a lot of work to do between now and World Peace Day and that things ain’t gonna be picture perfect once we get there.  As a friend in Africa laughingly informed me “There are no well-oiled machines around here, so don’t worry.”

Strangely enough, I haven’t been, which was either a testament to my delusion or exhaustion as I made my way through the following with an odd (and possibly unwarranted) sense of calm today…

o  10am meeting with the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. State Department who offered to have the U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone visit our main site, bless our efforts and take a photo with yours truly.  I’ll admit that while there are many things I won’t stoop to that others will, I’ve realized that a photo with the Ambassador might break loose some spare change and as we say around here these days — “whatever it takes”.

o  Spent the next hour or so juggling two iPhones and scheduling lots of meetings.

o  1pm meeting at UNICEF to discuss the press conference and crutch distribution. I’m purposely leaving out the discussion about the container that we’re working to untangle in Customs — there are some things one just can’t dwell on.

o  3pm meeting with Handicap International to discuss how they can support Operation Rise.  Thanks guys, but we’re a little too late in the game for that change of plans.

o  4pm meeting with Musa, Michele D’Acosta’s African son, to hand over an iPhone for him to unlock for Michele and discuss child party on Sunday.  Follow-on phone call to ask him to also pick up SIM card.

o  4:30pm meeting with head of Aberdeen site which caused me to really understand how much work we still have to do.  Lots of deep breaths immediately following.

o  5:30pm meeting with head of Grafton site during which I was told that the t-shirts weren’t being printed, nor had they followed up on other items they had agreed to do.  Time to regroup.

o  6:00pm meeting with journalist Theo Gbenda, recommended by journalist Joan Baxter, who mentioned he also works for Culture Radio.  Perfect — any chance you can get me a DJ, sound system, podium and microphone?

o  6:30pm meeting with Gibriel Kamara who did the first Peace Wall and who will be doing another this year…and who unexpectedly now finds himself manufacturing Peace Project t-shirts.

o  7:30pm is the time Tejan shows up (early) and as Gibriel and I walk back up the hill to the hotel to meet him, someone calls my name from a cab.  It’s Wizzy who’s got the 8pm slot on my dance card.

While I peel off some cash for Gibriel to buy some t-shirts, Tejan wolfs down some chicken in the hotel restaurant and Wizzy winds up for the sales pitch that comes after we discuss plans for the Amputee Soccer League to provide peace-keeping detail at all eight distribution sites.

“Sure Wizzy…I’d love to join you on the radio and television first thing on Monday morning to talk about how the Amputee Soccer Team was the inspiration behind The Peace Project.”

Several hours later while Tejan snuggles beside me playing video games, I find myself writing this blog in hopes that you’ll get a glimpse into the wacky wonderful world of “whatever it takes here” in Sierra Leone.

Tomorrow we’re off on a whirlwind tour of four of our distribution sites and back in Freetown Wednesday night to meet Dave Zuern and Michele D’Acosta, two of the other gun-slinging cowboys who have been practicing their own special brand of “whatever it takes” today to get this project done.

See you all on Wednesday.  Until then, stay blessed…

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noramartinhall

And suddenly, my Monday “To Do” list doesn’t look so overwhelming….

arteangie

Re: “Needless to say, I’ve been the recipient of a few raised eyebrows that others haven’t tried all that hard to hide.”
Raised eyebrows give you more strength! You keep on woman! We all are behind you!
Peace!

shelleyme

Great work Lisa!! As I began to read your blog,I found myself holding my breath…which takes our “Whatever it takes” motto to a whole new level. You’re a champion and a game-changer and I’m so proud to know you and be part of this amazing life-changing adventure. Can’t wait to see you.

theredhead

All I can do is laugh. This was a delight to read and the fact that you’re handling it with dignity and grace is a credit to the 20 years you’ve spent executing event after flawless event. All the programs that we’ve pulled off here in the States don’t begin to prepare you for the snags you’re hitting in Africa. Or maybe they’ve all been a part of preparing you, Kemosabe. :)

rosendo

With a little time and a little patience, the world eventually comes around to offer us new light and with it, hope for a better tomorrow~

Blessed are those who work in the light.

Lisa, you have a will and a strength which has spread to a community that stretches around the globe. Peace has gone viral and your spark set those wheels in motion~

Shine on~

Angels

September 10, 2011
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With an odd sense of numbness I boarded the plane tonight.  Headed to London for a stopover during which I’ll join Whole 9 member, Peace Project ally and filmmaker Michele D’Acosta for several meetings and a night on the town before setting off to Sierra Leone on Sunday afternoon.

The last few days, weeks, months, in fact, the last year since I fell in love with the images of photojournalist Pep Bonet and launched The Peace Project, are an incredible blur.  Highs and lows, hopes and dreams, tears and triumphs.  Heidi Huber constantly at my side, helping to keep the boat steady, the fort held down, and the monsters at bay as we race forward, magically creating the momentum needed to implement the largest social effort ever to take place in the country of Sierra Leone.

Earlier today my temper frayed as I frantically exchanged emails with Trulife (a UK company that had shipped half of the crutches to Sierra Leone) and UNICEF in Sierra Leone who was negotiating to get this second shipment of crutches out of Customs.   As we madly juggled money, praying for donations to clear quickly so that I could withdraw a large sum of cash to take to Sierra Leone to pay for the next few weeks’ expenses, tempers snapped and somehow Michele and I ended up in a shouting match on the phone that ended quickly with both of us wondering what the hell had just happened.

While on my way to JFK shortly after, I joked to someone on the phone that we wouldn’t feel like we were on the eve of implementing one of the most dramatic social efforts in recent history if there weren’t problems, and saying that I realized that underneath all of the chaos, miraculously I had the same underlying calmness I’d had when I was preparing to give birth to my daughter.  A quiet assurance that came in the midst of one of the most unhappy and chaotic times of my life.  An odd sense of destiny that, despite everything my crazy mind was telling me, despite what society programs women to believe, convinced me that I would have an easy labor and delivery.

Most people can’t believe the story of that Christmas Eve — the night of Willow’s birth.  For this night included preparing dinner for eight people, going upstairs at 8pm and then, with Willow’s father and a midwife at my side, giving birth and holding Willow in my arms before midnight.  This experience caused me to realize the power of our thoughts and our ability to manifest those thoughts.

Today in the midst of all the frantic emails and crazy-talking phone calls, I had a very disjointed lunch with a friend that was at dinner that night and as I type this, I can’t help but believe that seeing Phil today was no accident.  We have angels in our lives and people who keep showing up for no apparent reason — except perhaps to quietly remind us of something we may have forgotten.

Just one year ago, I had barely heard of the country of Sierra Leone, and miraculously I’m now on my way there to help cause a huge energetic shift.  Joining me will be Michele D’Acosta, who has been another angel on this project, filmmaker Sergi Agusti, whose work (along with Pep’s) was the inspiration behind what we’re doing, Dave Zuern, who along with his team at Invacare have not only donated product, but gone way beyond the call of duty to donate time, money, resources and expertise, and photographer Jeremy Fokkens who I tracked down in India to join us because I just couldn’t shake the feeling that this photographer I’ve never met should be part of this effort.

There is certainly nothing logical about my assurance that all will go smoothly in Sierra Leone, but as I mentally prepare myself for the coming weeks – weeks in which this crazy-talking white girl from California will lead an unprecedented network of NGOs, local and national advocacy groups, medical professionals, amputees and concerned citizens, in one of the most collaborative social efforts ever, I can’t help but think this…

Less than six months ago, I stood before this community and in front of various groups in Sierra Leone, and pledged that come September 21, 2011, we would join hands and rise up.  And miraculously thousands of people in Sierra Leone and around the world believed these words and have since given money, donated art, shared their contacts and their time, spread the word, sent emails cheering us on, and like me, dared to believe that tomorrow will be different than yesterday.

It’s easy for me to take much of the credit because mine is the voice you hear and the face you see, but I can’t help but think that this quiet assurance I feel is not just coming from me, but is also coming through me, from you.  Your belief in me, in us, in The Peace Project and in what we’re creating together is the hope that lifts me, lifts you, and will lift those in Sierra Leone.

As I stand on the eve of Operation Rise, my hope is that you’ll take a moment to pause and reflect and acknowledge every person around the world that has been a part of this miraculous effort, including yourself.

Together we’ve created something remarkable and beautiful and it’s been an honor sharing the journey with you.

I look forward to these final days knowing that all of you will be my side and knowing that through creativity and community, we will change the world.

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ganewcombe

Beautiful story Lisa. I am new to your this site and was impressed immediately hearing about the Sierra Leone efforts and the Peace Project. I look forward to future updates. Safe travel and best wishes to all of you and Sierra Leone. – Gwyn Newcombe

margaret

Lisa, I am praying for a peaceful and magnificent journey for you! You are changing the world and I am grateful to be touched by something as powerful as The Peace Project. I will be waiting anxiously with our girls each day for the details of your journey.
-Meg Zuern

theredhead

Hi All!

I keep joking that we are like NPR because we are always fundraising! :) But seriously, we have yet to reach our budget, so please donate now. You may make a tax-deductible donation to The Peace Project (in any amount) the following ways:
* Via credit card by clicking on http://www.thepeaceproject.com/donate
* Via credit card over the phone on my direct line at 310-836-4605
* Via check made out to The Peace Project and sending to:
The Peace Project
Attn: Heidi Huber
6101 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

Thank you all for joining us on the journey to Peace!

Heidi Huber

Gratitude Equals Peace Equals Change

August 19, 2011
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Earlier this week, I got home after a particularly long day at the office and was more than a little exhausted.  I decided to take a walk while waiting for my daughter’s father to bring her home.  As I rounded the corner in my neighborhood, gratefully thinking about all of the people that have walked beside me on this Peace Project journey, I looked up at the moon and felt a jolt of energy so strong that I was taken aback.  I later spoke with a shaman and she shared that I had many powerful guides walking beside me on this journey and this was their way of letting me know that I needed to stay out of the fear, live in gratitude, and that all would be fine :-)

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re one of the people that I was thinking about after that long day.  Thank you.  Because of you, we’ve continued to have many large and small miracles this week and I wanted to quickly share some of them with you.

Getty Images has jumped on the Peace train and will be sending a photographer to shoot Operation Rise in Sierra Leone on World Peace Day.  I’m also thrilled to share that filmmaker Sergi Agusti (whose work was a major source of inspiration for The Peace Project), will be joining the documentary team led by Michele D’Acosta and supplemented by a number of local filmmakers from We Own TV.  Michele has been quietly pulling footage from one of our recent visits together, seeking funding and putting the World Peace Day filming plan in place.  I invite you to take a look at one of the clips from an orphanage whose children will be the first crutch recipients.

I was also excited to learn this morning that our first container of product has arrived.  (Yes, that noise you heard was a sigh of relief…)  Our second container is due to arrive early next week.  We’ve put a plan in place to get the word out and are now working on World Peace Day activities and looking ahead to what happens after World Peace Day.  It’s hard to believe, but after we distribute the remaining crutches and take a vacation, we actually have something even more monumental planned for the coming year.  Stay tuned and let’s prove that it is possible to change the world!

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rosendo

Hell Yeah!

So proud and so grateful~

Carry the news!! The Peace Train is fueled by the power of love and comaraderie~

peace and light~

shelleyme

Your spiritual journey is beautifully felt and expressed, Lisa. And thank you for everything. I quietly say “Thank you” to you every day for changing my life.

awaken2sun

;-) @ shelleyme…I can only take some credit for changing the way you think about change. You changed your own life — I’m just lucky that the universe put me in the right place at the right time so that you could do that :-) Thank you…and see you in Sierra Leone in September!

dangerousideas

Heart-rending and amazing… What you’re doing, what you’ve put together here, is so wonderful! A true force for good in a world so beset by unspeakable evil (and I say that as completely secular, non-religous person who feels privileged to be able to participate and help in whatever small way I can). Thanks Lisa!
(ps: good work Michele; you’ve communicated a lot in a few short minutes with this new video)