Mood:  not sure

Hello all,

I am taking a break from art and artists today to give y'all a heads up about a wonderful international organization that has done much to help the Haitian people over the years. MADRE promotes peace and social justice issues, and also sends doctors and nurses all over the world to assist people in need. Secular and humanitarian in their vision, the organization reaches out to communities looking for a brighter, less violent future. MADRE's vision is to offer genuine assistance to those who need it most in order to lift everyone in a community.

The Zanmi Asante Clinic in Haiti works directly with MADRE to bring medical personnel, equipment and supplies into the country, and they could really use your help right about now.  The clinic was founded by a group of doctors in 1983 in order to help the poor people of the country, and in addition to medical care, it offers food, water, educational skills and economic opportunities.

My browser isn't working very well at the moment, so I'm listing links directly to the sites here:

Zanmi Asante Clinic: http://www.madre.org/index/meet-madre-1/our-partners-6/haiti-zanmi-lasante-36.html

MADRE: http://www.madre.org/index.php?video=1

MADRE article on what is needed in Haiti right now: http://www.madre.org/index.php?s=4&news=263 

*photo -  by Daniel Smith on MADRE's Zanmi Asante Clinic page.

Mood:  a-ok

Being an adventurer myself, I end up meeting a lot of other people on a similar path. As I stated a week ago when writing of my friend Dixie's recovery after her accident, sometimes we end up injuring ourselves on the road, and it's during our recovery that we find out who we are and where we're supposed to be. Because we've spent so much of our lives going, going, going, a hospital can be the kind of place that promotes the most overall growth, even when we are, undoubtedly, in some of the worst pain we've ever experienced. This happened to me when I was hit by a car 13 years ago, and I hope for the sake of Dixie and Hollis -- who is one of my blog subjects today -- that the same thing happens with my close friends who have been injured.

Hollis Hawthorne is a beautiful goddess of a woman, a yogini and free-spirited performer who I have known over the years through my work with the Black Rock City Department of Public Works.

About a month ago, she was in a serious motorycle accident in India while traveling with her boyfriend. Though she was wearing a helmet at the time, it did no good, as one of the handlebars ended up piercing the visor and hitting her in the head at a high speed, sending her into a coma.

With the aid of family, friends, and other well-wishers, Hollis was recently brought back to the US to undergo surgery. She is awake now, and is receiving visitors, but because she is an artist with an artist's income, she has no medical insurance and is in desperate need of financial assistance.

If you would like to learn more about Hollis Hawthorne and donate to her recovery, go here.

Mood:  hug me

Though milions of adventurous women go through their lives with no injuries, every now and then -- much like anyone of either sex -- someone ends up injured or worse.

This has happened to two different people within the last three months who I have grown to love over the years through my association with Burning Man and the Department of Public Works.

I first met Miss Dixie, a.k.a. Margaret Balliet, in 2005 when she was working with Burners Without Borders and Burning Man. A bright, fearless individual, she travels around the country and the world using her skills to rebuild areas stricken by natural disasters. She has given much of her life and energy over to helping others, and I feel like it's important for me to pull for her now.

Margaret was in a terrible car accident that almost ended her life in December of 2008. She was driving to Birmingham, AL during the winter holidays when a speeding vehicle struck her car, throwing her into the path of an oncoming semi. That she's alive and motivated to become whole again asap is a testament to her character, and her family is seeking the prayers of good-hearted people everywhere for a full recovery. Please visit her site at CaringBridge.org to see what you can do to help both Margaret and this wonderful organization. 

Mood:  bright

To anyone who has been disheartened by recent financial cuts to civic programs in arts and education, there is a wonderful program that allows individual citizens to donate directly to a needy school of their choice.

The website address is http://www.donorschoose.org

From their website copy:

"DonorsChoose.org has attracted contributors from all walks of life through an approach called Citizen Philanthropy. No matter their contribution size, all donors are treated to a level of service normally reserved for established philanthropists. This includes:

Meaningful Choice: Whether interested in pre-K literacy or science field trips, donors can select the specific project that they feel will have the biggest impact.

Full Accountability: DonorsChoose.org provides "end to end" integrity. We screen each project proposal before posting it online; purchase the materials for the teacher (shipping directly to the school); and compile photographs, student thank-you notes, and a teacher impact letter as feedback for the donor(s) who completes the project.

Portfolio Services: DonorsChoose.org contributors can track and manage their giving in "My Account," which shows the citizen philanthropist everything from the subject areas she/he has funded to the number of students she/he has helped. Tools such as GivingCards and gift registries allow donors to engage their children, friends, and family members in citizen philanthropy."