How Are You Empowering the World Forward?

Currently we are tring to help raise awareness for open art studios across the US. Specifically, an open art studio located in Uptown Chicago is in jeapordy of closing due to a lack of funding. The facility serves primarily those who are mentally ill and/or living in poverty. The studio is a place for people of all kinds to connect through the power of art and be part of a community.  www.srgivinggallery.com is currently traveling through 13 cities in 7 days to raise awareness and funding to extend the facilities existance. The events are called "Running on heART" and you can find more information on our fundraiser page at http://www.giveforward.org/fundraiser.html and searching for Running on Art. You can also follow the crew on twitter @srgivinggallery.

Hi! I just started a project where I am hoping to get alot of people in my city to help send some school children in Nicaragua some shoes. I talk with somone, who told me that alot of them only have their mothers who work, no father and only one pair of shoes. They don't wear them outside of school because they'll get worn. So I am getting things down on paper at the moment, I hope to have this done by the end of Summer. I'm getting a passport soon and would love to go over there to visit the children! I'm also in the process of learning Spanish!

In the last two weeks I just left my job at a VC company to work full time for a company that helps non-profits raise money and get their name out there. I decided to give my life, business, and marketing skills to help people wanting to help others. At the same time I work in a program called Restore. We help people in the inner cities of America learn trades and business skills to make money and support their family. The thing I have found is most want that they just need the help to get there. Anyway if anyone is apart of a non profit and needs some help in the Donor area or marketing area. We are the people to contact. Our company has raised as much as 130mm for one non profit.

What I am doing to help the world is that I put together benefit concerts/auctions for children living with cancer. All money from the shows go to a family in need to pay medical bills and anyother expenses they may have. I am the founder of Concerts For Hope and as of today we have helped 3 families and are working on our 4th show set for Friday June 12th at Andy's in Denton Texas. If you would like to know more about Concerts For Hope please visit www.myspace.com/concerts4hope and you can help with a donation for the acutions or any way you would like by sending anything to the address below. Thank you guys for this wonderful site and I hope to get to know many of you and see you at a event in the future.

Keith Higgs
Concerts For Hope
940-231-6023
keithhiggs28@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/concerts4hope

Keith Higgs
916 Ector
Denton Texas 76201

I love The dedication you both have for helping people.
It's my life dream to be able to help people on a much larger scale than what I have been. My husband and I are in the works of starting a charity,so that we can continue to raise money not only for local california children but now all over the world. Keep up the great work ladies.
much love
Brande

I have spent most of my life volunteering and actively participating in organization that promote diverse women of color in school, home life, and family life. My friends and family joke I will never have money if I give it away – but I think that no matter what – if you gave give a dollar or an hour – you can change someone’s life.

I’ve spent a lot of time with the youth in San Diego – in schools that people deem to be less than- and what I often find with kids is that they are so jaded by the time they are 7 or 8 years hold. I can’t imagine living my life in a four block radius – and I encourage them to think out side the box. I encourage them to not live up to what people think – and despite what they may hear – they can achieve anything – as long as they have the drive and determination to keep moving forward.

Coming from a traditional Mexican / Filipino household was not necessarily the easiest step for me. Sometimes our own parents and culture can hold us back from achieving what we dream. Or worse yet – they’ll kill a dream before it can even be a well thought out plan.

But what I find out nowadays in working with children is that they want it all – but they don’t want to work. So I have to be real with them and break it down. It breaks my heart to see girls at 10 and 11 giving themselves negative self talk – and if I can for a moment help them see that there are other options besides getting pregnant – or going straight to work without thinking of higher education – I feel like I have empowered them.

I’m sure some of you out there are going things on a larger scale. But I’m one girl, who herself is working full time, going to school full time, and being a mom full time. But I figure if I can do one thing – I’ve not only empowered myself, but someone else.