Growing through What We're Going through

If you’re reading this, I know you have a shared interest in seeing humanity work together with unprecedented vision, intelligence and love. Disaster has become the new normal. Now is the time to grieve collectively, creatively, quickly, beautifully and boldly. Turning our pain into purpose allows us to meet the next heart-wrenching flood, fire, displacement, and loss of life with compassion, imagination and strength. Using art to make a shared vision of success brings us closer to the goal of a world that works for all living beings.

Unity Through Creativity Foundation and the Singing Tree Project are dedicated to these goals. Please join us for the following events:

Saturday, Sept. 11, 10:00 - 4:00 PST

Online and In-Person Workday for The Mahogany Singing Tree to Reunite Children with Their Families

The purpose of The Mahogany Singing Tree to Reunite Children with Their Families is to

keep awareness alive of the 368 children who are still separated from their families as of

June, 2021. They represent a subset of the 5700 children who experienced the trauma of

being separated in the last five years. When completed in September, the mural will contain

368 leaves, each one symbolizing the joy of a child being in the arms of their loved ones. We

are partnering with ReDesign Training to raise $25,000 for KIND (Kids In Need of Defense)

who have reunited 1100 families to date.

On Sept. 11, there will be an on-line and in-person workday taking place around the country where people are invited to make the final leaves and birds to complete the mural.It will occur from 10 am to 3 pm PST.At the top of each hour will be a 15-minute instruction session. If you are interested in participating, join us on zoom:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8370386871

Sunday, July 25th, 4:00 - 6:00 PST PM

Celebration of The Magnolia Singing Tree

The Museum of Northern California, Chico, CA

The 96th Singing Tree mural, facilitated by Bobbie Rae Jones. Live dance and music performances, plus a Panel Discussion on “The Important Role Arts Play in Shared Societal Trauma.” Chico is close to devastating burn areas.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2Z5T-IZGR4

The Magnolia Singing Tree Celebration

July 25, 2021, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Chico

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Tuesday, July 27th, 5 - 6:30 pm PST / 6 - 7:30 pm MST / 7-8:30 / 8 - 9:30 pm EST

Campaign NonViolence Skillbuilding

Webinar: Amplify With Art

Facilitated by Rivera Sun and Laurie Marshall

In this fun webinar, we’ll look at the past, present, and future for ways to infuse positive non-violent action with eye-catching creativity. Bring a friend (or several!). This is part of a series of skill-building webinars for Pace e Bene’s Campaign Nonviolence. All are welcome, but if you sign up for Action Week in September, it’s free!

Pace e Bene & Unity Through Creativity Present: Campaign Nonviolence Skillbuildi...

July 27, 2021, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Webinar

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Saturday, October 2nd – 12-3 pm PST / 1-4:00 pm MST/2-5/3-6 pm EST Online

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Singing Tree Project – "Growing through what we are Going through"

A Peace-Building Through Art Event

The first Singing Tree mural was created in 2001 with 1000 young people

In Rappahannock County, Virginia. Since then, over 100 murals have been

Made. This is a rallying call to envision the world we want to see and work together to create it. We are celebrating Longevity, Creativity and Generativity.

Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Singing Tree Project

October 2, 2021 at 11:00 AM PDT Virtual

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The Singing Tree Project is embarking on a bold initiative to train 20 new Facilitators and undertake The 5 x 5 Program – Singing Tree murals in 5 countries for 5 years.

Stay tuned for more details about this exciting celebration with a line-up of Creative Activists, including Meredith Miller, whose vision as an 8 year-old in 1999 inspired the Singing Tree Project when she asked “What if the whole world made a painting together?”

Embracing Our Unknown Through Creative Collaboration

By Laurie Marshall

The 1st “Co-heart” of Certified Singing Tree Facilitators began on-line in August, 2020 with 12 people from five countries. Though we were spread around the world, we co-created The Rowan Singing Tree of Embracing Our Unknown, as practice for healing heartbreak through the Singing Tree methodology. After generating a list of over 30 issues, we focused on the uncertainty in the world, co-creating a symbol that allowed the many unknowns we face as individuals and a world to be a shared experience which we embrace together. Each participant made an image using the Singing Tree structure of a tree on the earth in space. They photographed their image and sent it to me electronically. I synthesized their work into one symbol as well as printed out their unique ideas to be included in the mural. Each participant also colored leaves with the images of their gift to the Unknown and birds with images with their wish for the Unknown.

Studies from left to right by Jehanna Blondeau(CA), Gabi Lipska (Poland and England) and Cynthia Suddeth (CA)

Studies by Angela Ilig (PA), Anita Khatnani (Mumbai) and Bobbie Rae Jones (CA)

Completed Rowan Singing of Embracing the Unknown

Co-heart 1 is now embarking on facilitating Nature-based collaborative Singing Tree murals in their communities. For example, Bobbie Rae Jones is immediately using the healing power of art. As a case worker in Butte County, CA through the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, USA , she serves the town of Paradise which was destroyed by fire in 2018. 86 people lost their lives. Just two weeks ago, 15 more lives were lost in the Bear Fire incident as fires engulfed the region again. People who rebuilt their homes lost them for a second time. The grief is too much. Bobbie Rae and I painted simultaneously on the “Embracing Our Unknown” – she in her Chico studio while I painted in my Novato studio. Bobbie Rae will be taking her version to her clients with a basket full of paper birds and leaves and colored pencils for whole families to pour their grief and love onto.

Bobbie Rae Jone’s version of our collective painting

Anabelle Hoffmann, who was born in Somalia and lives in London, is the founder of Heal Together. The NGO serves Somalian immigrants in the United Kingdom. She will be creating a Singing Tree to support the mental health of her community.

Jeanna King-Ruppel, a Restorative Response specialist in the public schools of Santa Rosa, CA , is partnering with the virtual Learning House public school community to co-facilitate a multi-media Singing Tree Project with 7th – 9th graders. Visual imagery, spoken word, dance, and music will be combined into a positive message.

Gabi Lipska, who grew up in Poland and is living in Northern England, will be reaching out to the immigrant community in the Cumbria region. She works for NGO CDEC, the Cumbria Development Education Center. The first Singing Tree in Cumbria will be that of Resilience – working with young people in the town of Workington to envision resilience on both individual and community level in schools. Minoritized youth have faced increased racism during the past few months as they leave quarantine. The project will help middle school students find strength in handling transitions from leaving the relative safety of their family bubbles to re-engaging with peers who have seen, heard and been affected by racial tensions.

Co-heart 2 of certified Singing Tree Facilitators will begin Nov. 6, 7, and 8, meeting 8 am- 11 am on Friday, 8 am 0] 2 pm on Saturday and 8 am to 11 am on Sunday, The early start time is to in order to accommodate people in Europe. Further information is available here.

Building the Beloved Community

by Laurie Marshall

George Washington University’s e-Co Leadership Coaching Certificate program asked the 15 participants to reflect on what they learned. I facilitated a collaborative creative process. Together they created the Banyan Singing Tree of the Beloved Community.

Just as leaves convert sunlight into food and drop to the ground to fertilize the soil, the Banyan LEAVES symbolize: What service do I wish to bring to the world?

Flying, soaring, swooping, gliding, flocking, pivoting BIRDS symbolize the free and inspiring movement of a coach in the world. The imagery of the birds answer the question: What is my wish for myself as a coach?

Butterflies

Humans begin as devouring little caterpillars. Most of us go through a stage when we have a protective outer shell while we fall apart inside without knowing that something magnificent will emerge. The butterfly symbolizes: How did the program transform me?

To see the complete reflection of the dedicated coaches which unpacks the genius of the participants, click here. And may you be part of the Beloved Community you deserve.