HOPE - Helping Other People Everywhere

I was recently introduced to a fabulous new organization called HOPE artists, which stands for Helping Other People Everywhere - sounds cool, right? I was blown away by the creative and empowering couple, who recently got married at Lake Shrine (one of my fave serenity places on the Westside,) and have both pioneered this enormous project to do just as they say, helping other people everywhere. Hope artists is an energy conscious humanitarian organization focused on supporting existing social projects that promote education and growth. By enlisting local artists, creating special events, and combining music, art, and technology, they help connect people for a joint cause to make a difference in the world.

I was educated on their latest effort, Darfur, one evening last week at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. This high-profile shindig featured a DJ (yes, they even have their own album), a streaming video of the couple's adventure in Darfur (helping the locals set up a t-shirt printing business and means of self-sufficiency), a powerful art auction featuring the same three Sudanese boys interpreted by various artist and their chosen medium, and a hands-on t-shirt printing lab where you could create your own custom logo HOPE t-shirt on organic bamboo/cotton blanks. They even had this cool pitched tent in the parking lot that was made of painter's canvas and lit up from the inside so anyone could paint on the blank canvas. The final art instillation will be on exhibit in D.C. showing support for Darfur and the beauty of bringing art and education together to create awareness for social issues everywhere. Check out their web site, www.hopeartists.org, and learn more about this inspiring organization and find out how you can get involved.