The Peace Project

10/02/2024

Late last year, distraught with grief over the genocide in Gaza and struggling with what to do next after losing my lease after 13 years in Downtown Culver City, I asked myself “what can I do?”

The answer was to create a space where the seeds of Palestinian arts and culture and humanity could continue to be sown. A space where people of all faiths could coexist. So I found a building in West Adams that (remarkably) I was able to purchase and I got to work.

This Sunday we’ll be opening Holy Ground with a discussion about Collective Liberation between Osama Silwani, a Palestinian Peace Activist and Rotem Levin, an Israeli Peace Activist. Osama and Rotem will be sharing their personal stories and their shared vision for a future in the Holy Land that is rooted in security, equality & justice for all.

But while Sunday is a beginning, it’s also the beginning of the end. After much consideration about how I want to spend the next few years, the truth is that running multiple businesses is not it -- the times we're in are calling for me to be of greater service, take a deeper dive into the healing work I share, finish a few projects I started in Sierra Leone and the West Bank, and God Willing, drop into Gaza. Holy Ground will only be open through the end of the year with a TBA schedule of workshops, events and exhibitions -- my goal is to manifest a buyer for the building and then move on.

I would love to invite everyone that has been part of TheWhole9.com, The Peace Project, The Whole 9 Gallery, and Gratitude Market stories to join us for an evening of celebration, contemplation, music & prayer and reflection & illumination.

And...oh yes...of course there will be wine ;-) Sending so much love to all and hope to see you on Sunday...please confirm here or at www.bit.ly/osamarotem

06/13/2020

Give the world your best ❤️

Back in March, when the pandemic was ramping up to deliver a one-two 🤜🏻 to individuals and communities worldwide, local economies were bracing for impact, and most businesses across the US like The Whole 9 Gallery were being shuttered without warning, we quickly assessed the collective resources of the gallery and The Peace Project, identified food as the most immediate and pressing need and got to work. This video tells that story.

We put together a list of groceries and fresh produce that could be combined to make meals — we made a conscious decision to not just give what we could, but to give families the best we could.

This care sparked incredible support by the Culver City community — you all donated fruit from your trees, grocery bags, specific food items, and the cash to buy quality groceries and ramp this project up in ten days.

In 12 weeks, with your compassion and generosity, we’ve distributed nearly 5,000 bags of groceries that have helped 800+ local families feed their kids, and have given them hope and ensured they felt respected and supported.

Together, we have given our best — this has resulted in the immense gratitude we see weekly and in our beneficiaries giving their best back to us — reaching into their pockets to help fund this program and rolling up their sleeves and working beside us.

We’re now in the final stretch. We plan to keep up the goodness for seven more weeks, cutting back slightly each week as some of our beneficiaries return to work. Here’s how you can help:

1. We need about $6,000 to get us through our last distribution on July 29. Please consider pitching in a few bucks at www.thepeaceproject.com/culvercityshares

2. Give us some fruit from your trees (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, and avocados).

3. Give us 5 -- support us every week with a donation of five things. For next week, we need unsalted butter, low sugar cereal, pasta and 28oz cans of diced tomatoes.

4. Clean out your pantry! We’ll take anything that’s not expired. Feminine hygiene products are also in great demand.

We're open for drop-offs Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 1pm - 5pm. You may also leave things outside the front door or at the back door behind the gallery (look for the murals).

The Whole 9 Gallery
3830 Main Street
Culver City

So much gratitude to so many that helped to breathe life into this program and have kept it going.

Onward ❤️

https://youtu.be/UtUQGOEzCzM

The Peace Project's Families Feeding Families.

04/15/2020

Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.

This morning, I arrived at The Whole 9 Gallery shortly before 9am for the 4th Wednesday of Culver City Shares. Issac, one of our beneficiaries turned volunteer, greeted me as I scanned a line of nearly 50 people that had formed two hours before the 11am distribution. My heart hurt just a little as we got to work -- me organizing all of the paperwork as nearly a dozen volunteers including Kelly Kent and Amanda Lockrow showed up -- quietly packing eggs, butter, cheese, bread from Larder Baking Company, fresh fruit and vegetables, and more.

Rocio and Modi were first in line four weeks ago when we started -- now they put their bi-lingual skills to work registering everyone. Today they worked efficiently as the line grew and grew and grew. People are hungry and they're hurting, but they're also humble, and grateful and helpful and their eyes light up when they receive one of the pastries that Copenhagen Pastry has been donating weekly. Many of them are local -- the backbone of our community -- those who keep our houses, take care of our kids and wash dishes or serve meals at local restaurants, some come on buses, but many drive late model cars and were considered middle class, before all of this. Today they reach into their pockets and pull out a few dollars to donate so that we can keep Culver City Shares going.

Today Ben (a local resident who helps out twice weekly), and I went through the line talking to people about what they needed that we weren't providing -- the requests were simple: oil, sugar, milk, wipes. One man was wearing a heavy knitted scarf wrapped around his face and was sweating -- we gave him one of the masks donated by Rachelle Carlson. Walter shows up weekly with his cane to get groceries -- today we called him into service to help portion out sugar next Monday. A few days ago, I saw a man sleeping in the doorway next door to the gallery -- today he showed up for food and offered to sweep up as a thank you. Now I'm grateful for the great job Rudy did sweeping my parking area. Every week, I include a recipe that can be made with what's in the bags -- today Martin Reynosa contributed his family recipe for pinto beans that we'll put in the bags next week.

Today, like many days, I thought of what we can create when we recognize each other's humanity and share our resources.

Today myself and the team here, with the help of so many of you, gave out food to 185 families, but we also gave out love, understanding, respect and hope.

Today was a good day. Thanks for doing your part.

Onward

04/15/2020

Gratitude turns what you have into enough

04/08/2020

You always gain by giving love