An Introduction to 'The Spark'...

There is an artistic renaissance happening the world over, a rising up of creative collaborations intended to provide the healing necessary for peace to prevail. It is a beautiful thing, a democratic thing, in which every single being can play a part.

Racism and sexism and stereotyping The Other in terrible ways has always existed. No current world leaders created the reality of man’s inhumanity to man, nor can any individual leader solve the dilemma. It will only be mitigated by true democracy, by the full participation of all people to cast aside petty differences, no matter how crucial they may seem to our own sense of self. It is time for societies—wherever they may be—to find a common swaying rhythm by which to live in harmony, and all the tools are in place to make that happen.

Nowhere is this collaboration more evident than in music.

Almost a decade ago, I met a Lebanese guitarist in a café. He was (is) the son of a Palestinian mother and a Lebanese father who fought hard for the rights of Palestinian refugees. As an American Jew, brought up in a Zionist home, I could easily have seen him as the enemy. But we became close friends instead, and he introduced me to his many friends from across the globe whom he’d met at Berklee School of Music in Boston. French Jews, and Israelis, Brazilians and Colombia/Venezuelans, and musicians from all over America. Berklee, like America itself, unites artists under a common purpose: to let people express themselves freely.

Raed El-Khazen helped me understand more fully the folly of cutting off whole groups of people because of past history. History repeats itself, with new wars waged every day over the smallest of differences. But with the help of artists like Raed, who has been producing others and creating his own music in Beirut since he left New York in 2009, I am reminded of the ability of the arts to transcend the limiting factors of our individual identities, and to enable us to reach into ourselves and find the pieces that we can best use to connect to others.

Building community through the arts is the main mission of InspireCorps, the non-profit arts education organization I started a few years back to bring inspiration to schools and their surrounding communities through music and dance and visual arts, through healing arts like yoga and meditation. We have been working vigilantly to apply the principles of our program to a small elementary school in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, PS81, and the early results are encouraging.

Offering humans an identity as an artist gives them something to be part of that is joyful, and focused and that engages them in collaborative play.

We are all who we are, but we are all of us artists, united by the inspiration to feel and act upon the power of creation.

I have made so many artist friends, and continue to on a daily basis, connecting with creative spirits from around the world who are making an impact, crossing boundaries and bridges and tearing down walls with their music, with their art, with their movement and rhythm and love, however they choose to express it.

Through my new blog, The Spark, I want to introduce you to new inspirational artists all the time*. I want to invite you behind the scenes to see how it is they are working to transform the world, to bring peace. You can read about it, see pictures or video, hear for yourself and be part of events that break down the wall between performer and audience, between Us and Them. You are part of the creative solution. You are.

Find your Spark through the link we will provide to the world’s great Spirit Leaders. Be inspired.

Shalom. Inshallah. Peace be with You.

In love,