Giving Planet embraces sustainable approaches to technology and the arts
By Rachel Ohm
NEW YORK- The runway was lined with images of teens in Uganda and Kenya as models walked by wearing African-inspired jewelry.
The audience came to see the works of Jennifer Chun and other New York designers. They stayed to listen to the reflections of teachers recently returned from schools in Kenya and Uganda, where they taught music, photography and meditation to teens.
The Unity in Style benefit fashion show was held Saturday to raise money for the young non-profit organization The Giving Planet, which mentors teens in the arts and uses digital media to connect classrooms around the world, primarily in Africa and southern Asia.
“We want teens to see themselves as change agents. We want them to gain a sense of themselves as global citizens. We do that through the mediums of art- through photography, dance and music,” said Marisa Pizzuto, executive director of The Giving Planet.
On Saturday night the halls of the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan were filled with music during Unity in Style, featuring the designs of Jennifer Chun, a Long-Island born Korean designer; African-inspired jewelry by Nancy Melet; and others to raise money for The Giving Planet.
Supporters of The Giving Planet and teachers who have traveled with the organization mingled over organic hors d’oeuvres and wine.
The show was co-hosted by actress Mariel Hemingway and nutrition expert Bobby Williams, both of whom spoke on how technology can fit into the balanced, healthy lives of young people.
“We live in a modern world and the only way to connect people across the world is through technology,” she said, acknowledging that as much as kids need to “go out and play,” they also need to send text messages in today’s world --
Just not 400 in a week-- the number Williams sited as average amongst Americans teens.
Around the world, teens are becoming increasingly invested in technology and social media-- something that The Giving Planet and its teachers see not only as inevitable, but as the key to sustainability and healthy lifestyles.
Karen Wacks is a music therapist and professor at Berkley College of Music in Boston. In May she returned from a trip to Kenya with The Giving Planet, where she taught meditation to teens ages 13 to 21.
Wacks is also a musician and was struck by the enthusiasm with which The Giving Planet’s arts-based curriculum was embraced.
“Everyone is a musician in Kenya,” she said. “Everyone has music in their life and the kids were so ready for this curriculum.”
She said she does not see technology as a distraction from the organic music-making of the teens she worked with, but as a way for them to share with the rest of the world.
“Technology is a portal through which The Giving Planet web pages share poetry, music and reflections," she said.
Claudia Eliaza, a jazz singer who performed live on Saturday, accompanied Wacks on The Giving Planet trip to Kenya and agreed that despite the ubiquity of cell phones and other technology there existed a deep appreciation for making music.
“One thing I learned very quickly was that clearly Kenya is such a musical country,” she said. “Music surrounds the people-- they do it before they eat; they sing when they tie their shoes, when they go to bed.”
One of Eliaza’s greatest memories of Kenya was teaching the song “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent to the teens, many of whom she continues to keep in touch with via Facebook. One, a student named Victor, is now directing his own play and others she says are busy with auditions and their own music ventures.
“There are so many great non-profits that go out and do great work,” Eliaza said. “But it’s the sustainability aspect that drew me to The Giving Planet. I feel like I’ve helped them to become leaders and to use their voices in positive ways.”
Yvonne said:
Nice job. This is a really interesting event, and you have some great detail.
Some things to work on:
Specificity and focus. This article lacks focus. It jumps around from place to place, especially toward the beginning. I’m not really sure what the purpose of the article is because there is not a solid nut graph.
Be careful of quotation formatting. I know it’s often hard to choose the best part of a quote, but you need to do that. Keep them brief and powerful.
Dashes, in general, should be Em dashes ( — ). You used hyphens ( - ) instead, which are not interchangeable. Be careful of that.
Otherwise, keep up the great work!
I want you to rewrite this and make it more specific, write a nutgraph and format your quotes right.
You are very talented so I want to make sure you fix these mistakes…nutgraphs are the point of your story..you can review the chapter in the carole rich book or review the handouts I sent you…so fix this and send it back to me.
She is sooo tough! I've never been told to re-write, but I know this is tremendously helpful and will make me a better writer! Thanks, Yvonne!
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