I am in awe of the women and children struggling with unspeakable loss and suffering on the African continent, in Haiti and Nepal. And I am grateful beyond measure to the people with whom I have journeyed. They survive with grace, dignity and humor and have informed the methodology that we use at Harambee Arts. I have witnessed their support of one another in the spirit of Harambee, a Swahili word meaning, “Let’s pull together.” For example, I have trained Zimbabwean grandmothers in rural villages who are pre-school teachers. They are teaching because all of the teachers are dead. The grandmothers also raise their orphaned grandchildren — up to twenty young children. They enthusiastically request training so that they can become the best teachers that they can be. They deserve our support. In Nepal we work with survivors of human trafficking who are now trained in the Harambee Arts methodology and train others. These women are powerful role models as they travel around Nepal and lead workshops to empower girls and prevent trafficking. They deserve our support. Autistic children are shunned and stigmatized in Kenya. Some are tied to a table or a bed all day long while the parents are at work. And they have so much to offer. They deserve our support. I stand with those who are invisible, and have lost all hope. Together we make a difference and heal wounds through the strength of community and love. In addition to my professional life, I am an artist, a writer, a salsa dancer, a mother, a grandmother and an adventurer.”