Previous Projects
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Peace Train, July 2007
Women Who Rock the World, October 2006
World Peace Day, September 13, 2005
Truth Be Told, July 14 - 16, 2005
Peace Train
July 2007
The TMtB PEACE TRAIN at School and at Home!
Peace making was in play when teams from Today Marks the Beginning went into Dallas schools to encourage local children to create art about their "Vision of Peace." We told the students that
their work would be hung at the Third International Women's Peace Conference. We showed the children some examples of art. We talked about how to make collages. We asked for synonyms for the word "peace." We asked how they could make peace in their lives, and when they felt most peaceful. Their answers varied. Some were poignant, others funny, or heartbreaking. We showed the students the colorful supplies we'd brought. We asked them each to make a piece of art about their vision of peace. We rarely had to coax a concept out of the children.
We also hosted two Peace Train Collage Marathons for adults to make their art for the International Works on Paper exhibit at the Women's Peace Conference.
"Peace Train" had kids and grownups alike making art as a powerful instrument of peace!
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Women Who Rock the World
October 2006
Reconnecting with our "mother-lines"(
more information)
Today Marks the Beginning presented two events with Carol Lee Flinders, author of
Enduring Lives
Friday, Oct. 20, 2006, 7 - 9 pm
Lecture & book-signing: "Enduring Lives: Women and Faith in Action"
Ms. Flinders explored the lessons we all can learn about the power of embodied spirituality from the four women profiled in "Enduring Lives": Etty Hillesum, Jane Goodall, Tenzin Palmo, and Sister Helen Prejean.
Location: the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., Dallas, TX 75204
Cost: $10*
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006, 9:30 am to 4 pm
Workshop: "Cultures of Peace and the Women who are Building Them"
Ms. Flinders led participants on a day-long journey through "Cultures of Peace and the Women who are Building Them."
Place: Skillman Church of Christ (Family Life Center), 3014 Skillman Ave., Dallas, 75206
Cost: $125, Lunch provided
Carol Lee Flinders is the highly acclaimed author of
Enduring Grace, in which she chronicled the impact of such female saints and mystics as Teresa of Avila and Julian of Norwich. In
Enduring Lives, she traces that same thread—that spiritual "mother-line"—right to the present day in the lives of the four protagonists.
With the spiritual discernment born of more than 30 years of contemplative practice, she explores how, in the face of fascism, racism, misogyny, religious and ethnic hatred, and widespread environmental destruction, each of them was able to make "an angel of her anger."
Placing them firmly within mother-lines stretching back over centuries,
Enduring Lives gives readers not a set of guidelines for living a meaningful life but vivid, flesh-and-blood-and-spirit examples we can ponder, admire, and emulate.
Through the lives of the women her books celebrate—from St. Teresa of Avila to Jane Goodall—Carol Lee Flinders invites us to embrace the power of embodied spirituality. Readers of
Enduring Grace,
At the Root of This Longing and her legendary vegetarian cookbook,
Laurel's Kitchen, come away knowing that transcendence is utterly possible—and that it is not for sissies.
Carol Lee Flinders holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of California, Berkeley, where she has taught courses in writing and mystical literature. She lives in northern California with her husband, Timothy Flinders.
Ms. Flinders came to Dallas as the guest of Today Marks the Beginning, which has sponsored such events as the Dallas observance of World Peace Day with its founder, author and filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, and the theatrical production
Truth Be Told.
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World Peace Day came to Dallas a week early!
Sept. 13, 2005
Jeremy Gilley, the man who orchestrated the naming of September 21 as World Peace Day, came to Dallas on Sept. 13. His visit was co-sponsored by Today Marks the Beginning, The Dallas Peace Center, and Umbrellas for Peace. Jeremy and Karen Blessen (artist, co-founder of Today Marks the Beginning, and Jeremy's collaborator on the children's book, Peace One Day) visited over 2000 students at Franklin Middle School, Parish Episcopal, and Ursuline Academy, and then signed books at the Lakewood Theater in the evening, prior to the showing of Jeremy's movie, Peace One Day. Students LOVED Jeremy, and responded enthusiastically to the man and his message. It was a great day that resulted in all three schools planning their future celebrations of World Peace Day, the sale of over 125 books, and most importantly - the possibility of peace being validated to many young peacemakers.
Nikolini's Restaurant, Dallas Affaires, IRIS Restaurant, and numerous volunteers generously provided a plentitude of food for the evening.
Photos:
Solange Mariel from Umbrellas for Peace embellished the lobby of the theater with dozens of "peace umbrellas" painted by local children.
Jeremy Gilley signs his name to Peace One Day.
Over 125 copies of Peace One Day were sold at the Lakewood Theater.
Jeremy Gilley and Karen Blessen
We plastered the doors of the theater with posters.
Peace One Day press:
 |  |
| The Dallas Morning News, September 21, 2005 | The Lakewood Advocate", September, 2005 |
Click on press clipping to read larger version.
Kirkus Reviews
Begging to differ with those who believe that individuals cannot make a difference in the world, actor/filmmaker Gilley describes his own years-long campaign, documented in a feature-length film, to persuade the UN to designate September 21st as an annual World Peace Day. In his relentlessly positive account, corporate support for supplies and travel is there for the asking, world leaders and officials from the Dalai Lama to Kofi Annan personally urge him on, and the difficulties of filming in locales worldwide, of winning over the UN's bureaucracy, and then of organizing the holiday's 2002 kickoff, are but momentary bumps in the road. In distinct counterpoint to Gilley's upbeat narrative, though, Blessen illustrates with jagged, urgent montages of clipped headlines, quotes, slogans, colored pencil portraits and small color photos that, cumulatively, effectively underscore the real need for each and every peace initiative. Rather than close with specific suggestions, Gilley caps his inspirational manifesto with the suggestion that readers find their own creative ways of celebrating the day. Not a bad thought.
Childrenslit.com
"Blessen's marvelously creative collage illustrations combine photos, drawings, and a variety of fonts and letter sizes. These present quotes and visual statements that can be used as discussion starters."
Booklist
"Most powerful are the double-page collage illustrations contributed by Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Karen Blessen, which blend some of Gilley's film images of kids caught up in war and portraits of world peace leaders with colored pencil drawings, posters, and even news headlines. The passionate prose and stirring images show and tell that each person can make a difference."
-Hazel Rochman
School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-Hoping to make a difference and help to bring calm in a troubled world, Gilley wrote to the United Nations to discuss an idea for a day when the entire globe would observe peace. In order to make it work, he decided a specific date was needed. As well as making it a day for global cease-fire and nonviolence, it would also be A day for everyone in our homes, schools and communities around the world to stop fighting. Aided by his family, colleagues, and friends, he wrote to presidents and prime ministers, Nobel Prize winners and religious leaders for help. While meeting with dignitaries around the world, as well as visiting countries where conflicts were going on, he decided to film the poverty, destruction, and suffering from wars. Seeing the reality that children had to live with reaffirmed his desire to make a difference. After struggling for over two years, his realization came true. The United Nations voted to name September 21 a day of cease-fire and nonviolence. He named it Peace One Day. All of the pain, disappointment, and excitement in his dream are well documented. The combination of text and illustrations demonstrates the message that everyone can make a difference. The clear, concise text appears with a collage of captioned photos and realistic drawings. Teachers and librarians can use the Web site provided for suggestions for individuals, families, and schools to celebrate Peace day.
-Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA
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A Report on the Truth Be Told production:
Aug. 22, 2005
Tickets for each of the three nights were sold out days in advance and all three performances had standing-room-only crowds.
"Powerful" and "incredible!" were the adjectives most often used by audience members, and participants alike when they described the play.
The Talkbacks after each show were well attended and featured energized and engaged discussions; groups of people lingered in the theater, talking excitedly.
Truth Be Told (the organization which inspired the play) had 21 folks sign up for a followup presentation about their work in early August.
Inspired by "a life-changing experience" and their dialogue with former inmates, by the time the play was over, Tina Parker, the play's director, and the cast had organized a "suitcase project" in response -- they plan to send a suitcase of clothes and toiletries to graduates of Truth Be Told's programs upon their release from prison.
AND Today Marks the Beginning earned over $10,000 seed money for our documentary project.
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Feedback about the play in the TMtB scrapbook:
Jul. 16, 2005
Karen Bower Robinson, Administrative Director, Project X Theatre
I was so moved by the play last night. I could not sleep and was up 'til 3:30 trying to figure out, first - what is so screwed up about our society and culture that people (women or men) choose themselves into such situations, second - why does it take going to prison (or otherwise "hitting bottom" to be able to tell yourself the truth about yourself, third - how to correct things before anyone gets to that point, and fourth - what can I do? Will I be the next lady driving from Dallas once a week to do dance or visual art with prisoners?
One of my friend's kids has been in jail several times. No rehabilitation. This last time he was in a bible-centered unit. I can't see that that made much of an impact either. They always went to church. She sent them to private school when they were young. Got him professional help when he was diagnosed with ADD.
He just doesn't seem to give a rat's ass about himself, anything or anyone. If thatcan happen to someone surrounded by love and good intentions, my heart breaks for and I fear for those who were given nothing to start with. As you know, our prison system is symptomatic of a much deeper and profound human problem. What can I do? Where do I start? I guess I'll have to call the ladies and find out.
I commend everyone involved with that production for giving voices and faces to those "forgotten" women and to the Truth Be Told folks for the courageous work they do.
* * * * *
Lisa Castello
Last week's production of Truth Be Told was truly inspired. It dealt with hard realities, yet offered an overriding sense of hope. I admit that I didn't know how it would hit me (as a prosecutor's wife, I strongly believe in what Kendall does as an advocate for the state), but I felt that the play fairly presented the responsibility born by these women as well as the circumstances that nudged them toward their actions. The writing, acting, and directing were as good as the best theater I've seen. And to end it with a TBT graduate's astounding rendition of Amazing Grace was nothing short of perfection.
I can see that God is with you in this.
* * * * *
Lulu Ward, actor who played the role of Sara
I've said this already, but can't help repeating myself. It was an honor to be a part of this project.
Although I spent my afternoon in a meeting, I have to admit, I was feeling rather distracted all day. I'm still processing the last two weeks. I know that this project appeared in my life for a reason. This experience has been a gift. Truly. A wonderful gift.
And of course, meeting the TBT women and graduates . . . Whoa! Like Katherine sang so beautifully, "I know I've been changed." I feel like I want to be a part of this but I have no idea in what capacity. Like I said, I'm still processing all of this.
Thank YOU again.
* * * * *
Keith Ford, Truth Be Told board member
A member of the Truth Be Told board, Keith Ford, came from Austin for the Thursday performance and was so moved that he changed his plans, remained in Dallas and added his name to the Friday wait list in hopes of seeing the performance again. After his second viewing, he commented: "Thank you for this fantastic experience! This has renewed me and reminded me of what's important."
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Truth Be Told—installation art:
Jul. 13, 2005
The following three photos are of an art assemblage that was created from works of art by women inmates. These pieces were installed at the McKinney Ave. Contemporary on the nights of the performances of Truth Be Told.
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Jeremy Gilley, the man who orchestrated the naming of September 21 as World Peace Day, came to Dallas on Sept. 13. His visit was co-sponsored by Today Marks the Beginning, The Dallas Peace Center, and Umbrellas for Peace. Jeremy and Karen Blessen (artist, co-founder of Today Marks the Beginning, and Jeremy's collaborator on the children's book, Peace One Day) visited over 2000 students at Franklin Middle School, Parish Episcopal, and Ursuline Academy, and then signed books at the Lakewood Theater in the evening, prior to the showing of Jeremy's movie, Peace One Day. Students LOVED Jeremy, and responded enthusiastically to the man and his message. It was a great day that resulted in all three schools planning their future celebrations of World Peace Day, the sale of over 125 books, and most importantly - the possibility of peace being validated to many young peacemakers.
Nikolini's Restaurant, Dallas Affaires, IRIS Restaurant, and numerous volunteers generously provided a plentitude of food for the evening.
Photos:
)
Solange Mariel from Umbrellas for Peace embellished the lobby of the theater with dozens of "peace umbrellas" painted by local children.
)
Jeremy Gilley signs his name to Peace One Day.
)
Over 125 copies of Peace One Day were sold at the Lakewood Theater.
)
Jeremy Gilley and Karen Blessen
)
We plastered the doors of the theater with posters.
)
)
)
)
Tickets for each of the three nights were sold out days in advance and all three performances had standing-room-only crowds.
"Powerful" and "incredible!" were the adjectives most often used by audience members, and participants alike when they described the play.
The Talkbacks after each show were well attended and featured energized and engaged discussions; groups of people lingered in the theater, talking excitedly.
Truth Be Told (the organization which inspired the play) had 21 folks sign up for a followup presentation about their work in early August.
Inspired by "a life-changing experience" and their dialogue with former inmates, by the time the play was over, Tina Parker, the play's director, and the cast had organized a "suitcase project" in response -- they plan to send a suitcase of clothes and toiletries to graduates of Truth Be Told's programs upon their release from prison.
)
AND Today Marks the Beginning earned over $10,000 seed money for our documentary project.
)
)
)
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