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. 

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

www.peacejourney.com/blogFull Blog

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

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.

Rock The Castle 2014 and Beyond

After producing and co-producing 6-concerts over the years we now want to find a permanent home for this annual event to heal the world. With our concert series named Peace Journey Rock The Castle nothing other than a castle will do.

In just a few weeks we will be announcing our fundraising campaign where we hope to raise funds to buy an existing Castle For Sale or build one in a destination location.  A big part of of our fundraising includes Peace Journey book sales, documentary distribution and an exciting crowd funding campaign where we can all be a part of the process to rock for peace in 2014!

Check back for updates!