Celebrities & Artist I Want To Thank for Their Inspiration This Season

Touched by Angels in the Arts

This holiday season I am reminded and grateful for the angels of art who have graced my life in painting, photography, storytelling, dance, songwriting, musicians, singers, promoters and producers who make it all possible for the world and whose work has deeply touched my life.  

I have to start with my father, who played and sang beautifully, accompanied by his soul, his heart and his guitar;  actress Dolores Hart who chose God over Hollywood, and depicted her story in a documentary titled "God Is The Bigger Elvis"; John Lennon's songwriting including IMAGINE,  The Flying Laser Guitarist Graham Gillot and  HyperHarp Jeff Grossberg who light up the world with music and light creations; Little Feat who rocked for PeaceJourney Hawaii on 4-islands in 5 days to help us bring computer labs to the islands and that included Ben Taylor (Peace Journey Trips documentary) and  son of James Taylor; Yuri Lane beatbox extraordinaire who recently performed on the Steve Harvey Show and who through his beats, connects our hearts; and Sandro Miller, photographer, who just won the Lucie Award for Best International Photographer of the Year; and Peter Exley and his wife Sharon with their amazing work to beautify the world through architecture and the arts. And Ben Mugisha, Rwandan Hip Hop sensation, Helene Henn, South African singer, Peyton Tochterman a rising star n the American Roots Music and traveler to Afghanistan in support of our troops through the State Departmen, Mimi Machado-Luces film and documentary producer, and Rocco Cataldo, who helps me make sense of the world of music and film through his own art!   Learn more about them here:  Bios at Peace Journey  And Richard Cahan, photographer, who bravely traveled and documented in the West Bank this year.  His photo display titled Night Raid can be seen now at  Art Works in River North-Chicago, Illinois thru December 15th 2014.

There are many people who have touched my life, who I know are there to step up to make this world better, but now in the latter part of 2014, finding out about so many local people and the beauty they bring to the earth has touched my heart, and reopened my creative senses,  which can only enhance our next Peace Journey adventures 2015, and the good we can all do for the world.  

Happy Holidays as you learn more about these amazing people. 

Movies & Arts Review: Wild, Starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern

WILD

This movie is a reminder of the bond between a mom and her daughter and in this case, the sad reality involved in not knowing what you have until it's lost.  I loved it, and recommend the great performances. Based on the true story of Cheryl Strayed.

This movie, Wild, did not affect me in the way I thought it might.  My perception after seeing the movie trailer, was I would relate more to Reese Witherspoon's character of Cheryl Strayed, but instead, I was drawn to the mother played by Laura Dern  who is the soul of the movie.  

I thought I would cry for Reese, since this true story was one of a mentally, self-tortured young woman who, after losing her mom, took on a 1,100 mile challenge to hike across the Pacific Crest Trail in a quest to answer burning self-depricating issues, including her obsession with drugs and sex.  In the end, she comes to true realizations about her life, but nothing phony or presumptuous.   

Through flashbacks in the movie, her mom, Bobbie Strayed,  who Cheryl says is 'the love of my life",  did everything she could with little to no money to keep joy, happiness, a roof overhead and hope in their lives.

Bobbi Strayed sang when they had little money or food to eat.  She worked and went back to high school in an attempt to gain knowledge of the world and a brighter future for her children.  She had breakfast and dinner on the table everyday and was present with hugs and a smile for Cheryl and younger son.  And, she dealt with the pervasive guilt of the physically abusive man she married and father of her children.  After one too many nights of being knocked around, she left and took the kids with her in the middle of the night.

Through it all, Cheryl Strayed never really saw her mother for the courageous, unselfish woman she was, who put her children before everything in life.  She didn't see the truth until it was too late.  

Being a single mother is a most difficult job, especially when money is at issue everyday. To have a mother who kept joy alive in the face of it all, to me, is the story of the strength of a truly ethereal, optimistic woman.  And now, her spirit and love of life lives on in the hearts of her children.

Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz

Sponsorship For Causes Makes Big Difference in Consumer Purchases

Isn't It Time to Step Up, Using Our Purchasing Power to Make the World Better?

1. "Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems. A trade-off may exist between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society and environment."

   Peace Journey Productions is now on our quest for the best and most socially responsible companies to work with.

   Let's face it, very, very few of any of us wake up in the morning thinking of ways to destroy the planet, our families, animals and neighbors.  In fact, for most thank goodness, it's exactly the opposite.  

   It is difficult to keep up with corporations and small businesses who stand out in the world for good, isn't it?  

   In my personal quest to find out the Who's Who -- Best Of  in the area of corporate social responsibility,  I am sharing this report from MacLeans Inc.  There may be many more lists that you find so please post your list below in the comments and we can share more of this good news with the world.  While this list is for larger companies, I would be remiss to not include the social responsibility by now of our key sponsors, PeaceSpaProducts.org

   All I know is 15 or 20 years ago,  one would be hard-pressed to find companies rated and reported on as the top companies in this category, and now through Google and other search engines, information is so readily available.

   This makes the process of choosing where to spend our dollars in our hands.  And there is no better time than the present, during the holiday season! 

   Choosing the top rated socially conscious companies to buy from means we still have to do our homework and be sure that the stories aren't just public relations stunts, but at least we have a guidepost for information gathering.

   
   

   Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

PEACE JOURNEY Seven Paths Venue Search for Songwriting Camp 2015 Underway

PEACE JOURNEY Venue Search Taking Us Down More than Seven-Paths!

www.peacejourney.com

Saturday was a day-trip for us to look at a farm music event venue for our upcoming songwriting/concert camp, on a very cold and blustery early fall Illinois day. 

Stonehouse Farm is only 1 hour and a half from downtown Chicago, but working 2-GPS systems simultaneously gave us two different directions to go in.  We decided to chose the road less traveled, adding another 45 glorious country road minutes to our drive.

Cornfields were abundant.  After a few years working at sponsorKIDS to promote healthy food in our local schools, I learned about all the corn that is being grown for sucrose in Illinois, eliminating many other crops that could be grown for food.  All I can tell you is growing up in Ohio with it's abundant cornfields, I have never seen as many cornfields as on the back roads trip to Stonehouse Farm near Sandwich, Illinois. 

We passed a small sign announcing Stonehouse Farm and immediately pulled in.  We first noticed that the farm's wood fences on the property needed repair and a coat of creosote or paint.  Following the driveway to the front porch of a mid-size barn-like structure,  we walked inside, where we found  a chef preparing food for that nights sweat lodge.  We sat down to enjoy coffee and meet the primary owner.  The building was rustic and cozy.

I had read about Yurts, the temporary tent structures around the farm that sleep 2 to 8 people each, depending on the size.  These are the only accommodations currently available outside acres of campsites on the premises. Rachel, the assistant in charge of events (oh and by the way, also an anthropologist and gourmet French Chef),  drove us around the property in a bright yellow one-seater golf cart as we viewed the campgrounds, garden and compost area, overnight parking for 500 cars, newly constructed showers, the pond, a sweat lodge, a large area where a stage can be erected, a grassy field large enough to accommodate up to 2,500 music concert goers on the lawn and barns, where yoga and other performances could be held.

The actual Stonehouse Farm four-bedroom house is to be rehabbed, but it doesn't sound like that will be completed in time for our event in 2015

Our songwriting camp needs to house about 30 to 40 people plus our production crew, and Stonehouse Farm would be a rustic choice with a lot of hidden costs. 

But I keep thinking that the best creativity happens when we are close to nature. And I also remember Woodstock, although this would be a much smaller and less celebrity driven undertaking.  So, I am getting out the spreadsheet and seeing how viable this venue might be for 2015.   

I do know this: the spirit of the land is amazing and it just felt good to meet people so grounded in what matters for the use of the land. On the way back, we drove past Aurora University.  It's beautiful and I understand they have a fine music school there that could be an asset to our project.  

So the search for the perfect home for Peace Journey Seven Paths songwriting camp and concert continues. Please leave a message if you know another location like Stonehouse Farm, a spiritual retreat,  or a venue that collectively cares about community and nature, in and around the Midwest and within 3 to 5 hours from Chicago that might work for us in 2015.  

I have no choice but to run down parallel paths looking for just the right home. And it's fun to explore all the options as this important decision will lead us to find what we hope will become a permanent and annual home for us to live, create and breath for peace.  

We are charting our next Peace Journey Adventure Trip 2016 to Peru where we will explore with high school students the amazing rain forest and indigenous people as we work on a deeper connection with the earth.  Stay tuned. 

Thank you. 
Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz
jkravitz@peacejourney.com

www.peacejourney.com

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WHAT ARTISTS WORK WELL FOR PEACE JOURNEY MUSIC CAMP 2015?

Music Genres of Folk, Beatbox, Blues, Country, Motown, Rock and Roll, Hip Hop and Spoken Word.

My entire life, I have loved music.  From my early youth singing in the church choir through high school, listening to my dad play the guitar and sing old country tunes, I knew it was the art form that touched me more than any other.  And this feeling is even more intense today.

I don't play an instrument, but I love to sing.  The art of music composition fascinates me and the way people react to music's now, scientifically proven powers,  is something I have known in my heart since I was a child.

In 2015 we will be producing another amazing songwriting camp and performance arts show to help heal the world.  The more I learn about the positive aspects of music on the brain and how music affects our emotional outlook on life,  the more I am convinced that this art form can bring peace to our lives, to the world and inspire change.  

Our next "camp" will feature professionals from the music industry from folk, blues, country, Beatbox, Motown, rock and roll, hip hop and spoken word.  We are reaching out to musicians, songwriters, composers and more who want to help promote social change in small or big ways in their art form, in the way they lead their lives and how they treat the world.  It can be fun, uplifting, poetic, and or confrontational.  It's all good if it's good and moves the spirit.

Who are some of the artists you know and love that you could recommend for us 

to reach out to, or visa versa? They can be known or unknown, 

but we need a short bio and links sent via email.

Please share this post with artists you admire or know on 

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and more!  

Together we can build an amazing roster for the 

Peace Journey 2015 writing and performance camp.

Send recommendations to: jkravitz@peacejourney.com

Our team is looking at a variety of unique concert venues in the USA to host the event, and are in discussions with partners, media and camp professionals! 

Stay tuned and we look forward to your ideas! 
JBK

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 2014

YES, IT'S FUN TO DO A 10% OFF For a Day This Special!
http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/index.shtml

As an event producer and developer for our charity at PeaceJourney.com, I so appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to build a consensus and pull together key partners to make extraordinary events like this come together.

I also love the fact that each of us, in our own way can get out any day of the year and remember to celebrate the gift of freedom in America. And, the reality is that in most ways for most of us, peace is a big part of our lives.

Yes, regions of our country and the world seem to be the worst they can be right now, but in our own lives we need to be accountable for our contributions to peace within our communities  our family and friends and loved ones.  

Please, take a little time this weekend to be grateful for our military and the men and women who are working hard everyday to keep us safe, while we enjoy the freedoms and peace in our lives.  And do something to help others lives.  It's small gestures that make the most impact.


Blessings to all and a little savings doesn't hurt! 

J. Barcelos

Respect to Mother Earth

I love the earth...

Today, as I looked outside my office window, onto the vast sea of beautiful architecture in Chicago's landscape and breathe in the cool, crisp fall air, I was drawn outside, for there was a big surprise, yet another cluster of green beans in a pot I planted earlier this year.  And several variety of mint for my favorite drink Mojitos, flourishing and growing all summer long, and looking as fresh as the day they were planted.


In my sweatshirt and yoga pants, I took it all in and was overwhelmed by a sense of gratefulness to be here at this time and place, enjoying the pace of the city outside my door while basking in the chill with plants that may not be around in month when the planet brings in it's fall chill and renewal winter.

So for this moment, I wanted to reach out to each of you and ask; "Do you love the earth, our home?"  Do you treasure as often as possible, the gifts of food and flowers, of sunrises and senses of sea, forests, mountains and deserts, and sunsets of vibrant color, put on each day and night as a gift from our planet and for our pleasure?  

I can only think at this moment how care for our earth just cannot simply be a political issue.    What matters is that we show love for Mother Earth in the way we care for her and nourish her existence, while not destroying the very important and essential elements that help her thrive and survive for herself, for all the animals and insects, the plants and fish and for each of us.

Climate change arguments have been raging for so long.  I am not a scientist.  But I know intuitively that without caring for something you love, it will not flourish and it will struggle to survive.  

Please, just give some thought to Mother Earth tonight, as you watch the sunset and again in the morning, as she graces us with her morning light.  And think about what we each can do to treat her with the love and respect she so deserves.   

Love and light   J. Barcelos

WBEZ Global Activism Student Youth Start Up Night at Lincoln Hall

September 4, 2014  Lincoln Hall Chicago Illinois
WBEZ Global Activism Student Start-Ups and a Night at Lincoln Hall

A few years ago, Global Activism Expo was hosted in a major venue in Chicago, but last year the decision was made to break this one-date Expo into a few events throughout the year focused on different subjects.  Last night,  Lincoln Hall hosted one of this years event where one-time students now young adults,  showcased their now successful projects for humanity. 

I like this new, smaller format for the Expo because it is not so overwhelming for the participants.  The night concluded with a discussion panel and beautiful music.

I especially liked the student project called MealSharing.com.  My husband and I just went to a movie titled "If I Stay" and in that film the key young woman character's family was bohemian, caring, loving to all and had family pot-luck dinners every Sunday for whoever wanted to stop by.  

The parents came out of the music industry too, so the dinners would turn into music jams.  I loved it.  MealSharing brings on that experience of community and I plan to get involved!  My work for school food taught me the importance of food and community, not to mention my family upbringing.

Another project I thought was doing a great job is BasicTransfer.com  Like Kiva, it gives back to women around the world and with 910 million being the number of women living in extreme poverty in the world, this money can pull women and children out of poverty. Basic Transfer is a for profit company.

And RainforestRescueCoalition.org empowering indigenous tribes and individuals in the Peruvian rainforest.  Adam Bauer-Goulden is the founder!  If I could only bottle his gentle nature and complete love and focus for what he is doing, we could raise enough money to solve this issue.  He is an inspiration.

Past Global Activism events saw 5,000 or more attendees, featured short films and speakers.  I am hoping as time goes on, WBEZ will be able to incorporate more and more visual mediums, panel discussions and continue to include beautiful music like last night.  

Thanks to everyone who came out and those who organized this event.  Please check out these companies and nonprofits.  Find something you love, and help these young people realize their goals for mankind if you can.

It was great to meet them all and more information can be found on the event at www.WBEZ,org

Global Activism features individuals with Chicago ties who want to make the world a better place. Listen live on Thursdays or subscribe to the Global Activism podcast. If you know someone to nominate for the series, fill out this form. Chicago Public Media (WBEZ) has not independently investigated any persons or organizations that appear on the Global Activism series and does not endorse any such person or organization.

Humor, Free Chicago LitFEST Events and A Demo of How-To-Give-A-Moutza!

Chicago's LitFest 2014 Had It's 30th Anniversary this weekend.  

For the past 5 years I have been addicted to attending these literary packed two-day events,  no matter what!  I am one of those people who never read anything as a young kid, except for the occasional beauty magazine,  but somewhere in my 30's, I experienced reading for pleasure, and have been hooked ever since. 

Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz

We got to LitFest at 10 a.m. thanks to Chicago public transportation, just in time to hear reporter/writer/columnist and my favorite journalist in Chicago, John Kass and his team speak.  Even if I don't always agree with John, his reporting makes me feel smarter somehow.  

As many Chicagoan's know,  John was given a custom print of Mayor Rahm Emanual as the Rahmfather from The Godfather movie fame last year.  A few weeks ago, the RahmFather print was stolen from Kass' office at the Tribune. There are only two copies of this original piece of art, one made to accommodate Mayor Rahm's request and City Hall office decor, and the one given to John Kass at the Tribune!  This master thievery has been playing out in John's column over the past week or so.   


So the search began, and during the LitFest presentation it was announced that the Rahmfather print was returned to it's rightful owner, John Kass.  All in great fun.

I read John's column every day, and I have to admit,  I have been curious about this gesture and award he gives out monthly to the biggest idiot of the month he calls a  Moutza of the Month.  Prompted by the audience, John stood and began to demonstrate the variety of hand-signal Moutza's you could give someone depending on your mood or motion.  I simply cannot explain these gestures and do them justice, but I did get a number of photos showing a variety of Moutza's by John Kass that you too can give to people who irk you.

Then, I found this further explanation on the web at telecom.co.uk:

Mark Jacob, John Kass, Willian Lee

Moutza  Meaning: To hell with you!/I rub **** in your face!/I'm going to violate your sister!

Used in: Greece, Africa, Pakistan

The Moutza is among the most complex of hand gestures, as elaborate and ancient as a Japanese tea ceremony. Perhaps the oldest offensive hand signal still in use, the Moutza originated in ancient Byzantium, where it was the custom for criminals to be chained to a donkey and displayed on the street. There, local townsfolk might add to their humiliation by rubbing dirt, feces, and ashes ("moutzos" in medieval Greek) into their faces.

Now that the advent of modern sewage systems and anti- smoking laws means that these materials are no longer readily available, the Moutza is a symbolic stand-in. In Greece, it is often accompanied by commands including par’ta (“take these”) or órse (“there you go”). Over the years, the versatile Moutza has acquired more connotations, including a sexual one, in which the five extended fingers suggest the five sexual acts the gesturer would like to perform with the subject’s willing sister.

All of this made me think--what would we do without humor?  Everyday, really bad stuff is happening in the world yet a serious jjournalist with an honest, bold and genuine way about him made our Sunday morning much brighter.  I just wasn't expecting to like John Kass as much as I did.  And I am grateful for that. 

Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz  John Kass

My husband and I walked around, he had an agenda which mostly meant "plant me somewhere interesting" so I did, while I ran around listening to Spoken Word artist from Chicago's City Poetry Slam hosted by the Green Mill co-host J.W. Basilo, featuring Tim Stafford, Fatimah Asghar, Erick Sirota and Amy David.  If you have never heard spoken word, it's a trip of storytelling, unique in it's Chicago origin from 1986 with a cadence of unique bravado that stirs the mind, heart and soul.  Some funny, some profound, and I now that I know Chicago has a very vibrant spoken word community, I want more.

Chicago City Poetry Slam

Randy and I sat for an insightful presentation:  Drawing Conclusions: A cartoon multimedia extravaganza with cartoonist Scott Stantis.  I've never thought about how cartoonists' evolve from in Scott's case,  law studies to artistry to cartoons, but I am glad cartooning became Scott's chosen profession.  He reminded us about the important freedom of speech work in Cincinnati, Ohio when Larry Flynt's publishing

Bill St. John on Wines

empire was on the rise.  Mr. Flynt was at one time responsible for upholding freedom of speech all the way to the Supreme Court when he took on Preacher Jerry Falwell in court and won.  

Scott Stantis Larry Flynt

We also really enjoy wines, but I seem to always have unanswered questions about what we are drinking and why!  Chicago Tribune wine columnist Bill St. John enlightened us and took some of the mystery out of two of my favorite wines.  I am glad to find out I have a more refined pallet than I expected.  My favorite wines are oaky Chardonnays and robust Pinot Noir's. I learned these two wines are quite complex.  Someday,  I hope to study more about them!  

Being from Cincinnati I am always excited to learn something new about home-sweet-home.  We were walking by a publisher's booth and the sign said  "Located in Cincinnati".  Randy told them I am a new author, and we started to chat with Cincinnatian author,  Brian Dobbins, sporting a shirt that said "SOFA"  Southern Ohio Filmmakers Association.  Brian was so darn warm, friendly and open, like so many folks I know back home.  I serve on the PeaceOnEarthFilmFestival board in Chicago, and was intrigued to find that this long standing Cincy festival was alive and well and I plan to followup.

Hungry as all get out, we stopped by the Jerk312 Chicken food truck for the best Jamaican jerk chicken in the world!  Go to their website and find out where they are making theirs stops around town. You won't' regret it!  

Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz

We continued to the Tribune Tent to hear three compelling stories from the Tribune Watchdog Panel;  George Papajohn, Patricia Callahan and Michael Hawthorn.  Yes, I consider myself an activist, but to hear the stories of the sheer dedication these journalist have to the issue at hand and the commitment the Chicago Tribune has to truth telling at all costs,  will help me sleep better in this city with unique politics and unspoken violence.  I want to thank all the Watchdogs everywhere for the work each of you are doing to keep it real and keep us informed.

George Papajohn, Patricia Callahan and Michael Hawthorn

We went by the CSPAN truck but they had decided to close early.  Disappointed! 

We stopped for a drink at  Potbelly where a lovely young musician accommodated my music request. We sat by sipping and watching a sea of people methodically work their way through the crowded tents, looking for that one book or two that will enlighten , compel, entertain, fantasize or simply provide a reality check.   

Children galore, adults, goth scene and professors among the mix and all I can say is, I can't wait till next year!  

And yes, I did buy a book of poetry.  More on that later once I have had time to absorb the poems of a US  soldier who wrote poems based on conversations of US captives behind bars while incarcerated in Vietnam. Stay tuned.  Thank you.  Jeannette Barcelos Kravitz

John Kass More Moutza!

Big City 2.7 Million People Rocks A Lot of Peace!

Tuesday late afternoon a client of ours at PeaceSpaProducts.org asked if we could deliver her order to the Gold Coast and we said absolutely and without question!  I looked at my husband and said, "Let's do it now".  It was 3pm in the afternoon.

Beyond wanting to provide great service, we looked outside and saw the day getting away from us, so we loaded up the skin care order, made sure we had lawn chairs, the food basket and cranked up the old convertible as we headed out to Montrose Harbor for a favorite north side view of the city.

Drop off made, we went to Jewel up north off Montrose Street to find some pre-made healthy food, but decided to give Chicken Eaters Paradise Since 1959- Family Owned and Operated a try.  We have driven by this place a hundred times, intrigued with all of it's snickered windows sporting best broasted chicken, ATM inside and ice cream cones for 49 cents.  

We settled on the Jakes Broasted Chicken with a surprise potato wedge, while not bad, doesn't compare with the fresh rotisserie Jewel Grocery Store chicken we usually pick up and for about the same price.  I also sprung for a Chili Cheese Tamale which was terrific.  This place has breakfast all day long too, so we will go back, as well as Polish, Italian and Greek specialties.  I love family owned places like this, but I wonder how they keep so many items fresh and in-stock.  

We packed the food in the picnic basket and off we went to park at Montrose Harbor.  Free parking no less, at least for now.

We planted our chairs along the concrete walkway near the water, got out our eats and a bottle of California red. It was then I realized that in this city of 2.7 million people, on the banks of Lake Michigan on a beautiful Tuesday early evening, it felt like we were in small town.   

Along the lake banks stood a handful of Polish fishermen, casting their rods as their wives fetched coffee. Occasionally pulling in a catch and storing in their white fish pails, napoleon sea gulls swooped around them overhead, noisily squawking while hoping for any droppings of food.  While a lot of people consider these gulls a nuisance, they actually are like flying garbage men (sanitation engineers for the politically correct), as they scavenge up tons of dead animals and organic litter which can pose health treats to humans.  So say thank you next time you see one. 

Children on bikes, dads and moms on roller blades, friends walking together, boaters heading out for an afternoon ride, were all unexpected visual pleasures.  From these two downtown city-dwellers who never take an evening off to sit in a park and just enjoy the quietness and community that happens everyday in these enclaves around the city of Chicago, we felt blessed.  

Living here for almost 20 years, I am rediscovering my city in ways never imagined.  I promise myself for every week I work, to go out one night to explore little known places, people and things to reinvigorate my love of Chicago.  

I am learning that you find peace where you are, and it's found mostly where you can easily change your perspective by a quick drive and just a little time to explore.