Sunday, June 13, 2010

AHHHH! I LOVE LIFE!

It has been too long since I have blogged. These past few weeks have been hectic, exhausting, inspiring and so much more.
I could honestly write you a novel describing the experiences I have had these past few weeks but I will save you the time.

I am inspired constantly throughout the day. May it be through conversation with a new friend I randomly ran into at Whole Foods, or from the nature that flourishes around me. I am accepting who I am and where my life journey has taken me. And while this has been no easy task, I am unbelievably thankful for every road I have taken and the people who led me this way. I have found peace within and see no point of return. California has been such an amazing facilitator for growth. I am so excited for this month!

<3

Monday, May 24, 2010

Light beyond the clouds

This past week has been so unreal. Everything I have ever dreamed of doing has been put in front of me and set up for success. I have to step back sometimes to take it all in and thank the universe for being awesome. I have spent so much of my life dreaming of the future and now that it is here I am finally learning how to embrace the present. While it was a long and emotional journey I am so glad that everything is happening when the time was right.

Saturday we experienced our first event which was set up by this amazing twelve year old girl names Devyn. Her father is the VP of Disney records so we got to kick it with a bunch of teenage girls pining over All Star Weekend, which is supposedly the equivalent to our N*SYNC. SOOOOO MUCH FUN! Billy Ray Cyrus graced us with his presence which was pretty awesome, especially because his 1992 debut album Some Gave All was one my first cassette tapes. Yah I know, I lived in Texas what can you expect. The kids who helped out with our event were some of the most well-mannered, intelligent, passionate kids I have ever come across. It was such an amazing experience.


Bobby Bailey, one of the co-founders of Invisible Children, has been in town helping out with our video ideas which has also been so surreal. I never would have imagined a few years ago that I would be drinking wine and sing songs around a campfire with the creator of the movie that changed my life. Here is a small snip-it of how ridiculous he is. LOVE IT!


Today we were given our job titles, which is awesome. I have loved the training experience but have found myself so ready to get this ball rolling. You are now looking at the Artist Relations coordinator for Falling Whistles. I will be the liaison between musicians as well as other artists and the Falling Whistle team. One of my tasks this summer is to organize our Summer Thursday events, which are a community gathering for people to come and enjoy good music, great people, and stimulating conversations. I am so excited to be apart of this!! Hopefully, the one and only BEAT MASS will be playing our big House Party! And collaborations with Jared Tate are in the works!!

There are so many exciting things to come this summer. I feel so fortunate to be apart of it all. I encourage you to come and visit on a Thursday if you can and join in on the festivities, it is going to be a summer of epic proportions.

Friday, May 21, 2010

where I am and where I hope to go...

These past few days have been some of the most amazingly overwhelming days I have ever experienced. On the drive over here I had no idea what to expect, and in a way I still don't. But what I have come to realize over the past few days is that in order to understand where I want to go I need to embrace where I am. We have learned so many new things this week and have met some amazing people, which will continue to occur. I am learning how to breath in all this information and constructively place it towards the goals I have as a human being and with Falling Whistles. I have had so many courageous conversations in which we have all put aside our prior wants and needs to fulfill a dream of peace in the Congo. I have always believed that in order to solve the travesties that are occurring this very moment is to rebuild a nation that has for so long be pushed aside and been deprived of a chance at hope.

Roughly 6.9 million people have been killed in the Congo and that number is on the rise each day. Children are stolen from their childhood and force to fight in a war that has been carrying on for decades. There is chaos, rape, and murder on a regular basis over trivial entities. Congo is rich with minerals we find in the electronics we use everyday. Because there is no regulation rival rebel armies are killing over these minerals in order to financially succeed and gain power. With the ability to sell these minerals at such a low cost the supply chain begins to be clouded with shady business. We have been conditioned to want things right here and right now and this impatient need for material items has allowed a nation to be treated unjustly and given little opportunity to thrive. This is where Falling Whistles comes in.

While we do not have all the answers. far from it honestly. What we do know is that we are all connected as human beings and that if we work as a collective mind we can begin to show the world that the violence that is occurring in the Congo is not okay. I am continually amazed each day at the passion that this organization has. We know that this is not going to happen over night, but we believe that through rehabilitation and advocacy amongst many other things, we can rebuild a generation that has only seen disparity into a generation of leaders to fight for themselves.

I hope that as this summer progresses the interactions I have lead to opening the eyes of this world to the shit that is going on. Cause frankly, it is pretty fucked up.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

collaborative balance

When the bigger picture becomes our main focus we sometimes loose sight of the significant steps we must take a long the way.
The connections I have made with people and the ones I will continue to make everyday have reiterated how beautiful life truly is.

I am so excited that my job is sharing an incredibly disruptive story to bring about love, hope and change.
We have started our intern blog, www.fwinters.tumblr.com, check it out!!!

<3

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

wow

I am running on roughly 2.5 hours of sleep and loving every moment of it.
Yesterday morning we were given the impossible task of redecorating our tiny, might I reiterate, TINY garage office to fit 18 people comfortably and with plenty of storage. My amazing roommates and I prowled the streets of L.A. searching for any possible wood, chairs and materials we could use. While the first few hours seemed very unproductive, we rallied together and finally finished this morning around 9 am. ( with a 2.5 hour nap between 4:30 and 7) P.s. we kicked some serious design ass.

While my body is a bit achy, my mind isn't the sharpest at times due to lack of sleep, I wouldn't change the moments I am experiencing for anything. I have to constantly remind myself that this is only day three which gets me even more pumped. I have met some of the most compassionate, creative and genuine people of my life. This organization is exactly what I imagined and then some. I which that I had the time an energy to sit down and tell you everything I am feeling right now, but I must head back to this awesome thing I call work.

Catch you up soon!!


MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU ALL!!!

<3

Monday, May 17, 2010

Day Two

Besides waking up from the most realistic/ terrifying dream, today was just magical.

Everything has been one giant surprise after another. Today we woke up bright and early only with the instruction of wearing athletic shoes. As we are directed to pile into cars and follow Sean Carasso, the fire behind Falling Whistles, down the PCH endless possibilities of or next adventure flowed through my mind. After what seemed like forever we entered the Malibu Canyon State Park with a misty haze filling the air. After some amazing personal time in the wilderness, we were sent off on a scavenger hike through the canyon. This amazing experience created a bond that has and will continue to flourish between those I will soon call my family. Today was overwhelmingly joyful.
After a delightful lunch in the park we are then sent on another mission. We must sell two whistles on the Venice beach boardwalk, which is much harder than you would think. Mission accomplished!

This journey will push me to places I have never been before and while this is terrifying, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

I wish you all endless amounts love this evening!

Love, Jen

Day One

Today has been so surreal.
The drive here seemed surprisingly short, which was delightful.
I am having a hard time grasping the fact that this amazing place is my home for the next few months. I am roughly 15 mins from the beach, which I have yet to visit, and I am sharing a two bedroom apartment with 6 of the most amazing people and 2 more come in a month.
Each moment has been so unexpected which is exactly what I was hoping for. I feel so calm and relaxed about everything and cannot wait for what is to come.

whooo hooooo!


<3