When you believe in something so much, the passion you have for that cause outweighs the unbelievers, the naysayers, the numbers that are stacked against you. In beginning this project I knew that it would be difficult to build a platform and audience. But I also know that if I can get the attention of just one person who the world looks to with admiration, who is a leader and visionary, then perhaps I can share the passion I have with the same audience and make this idea a reality. So this morning I wrote a letter to Oprah Winfrey and staff. For those of you who know me are probably thinking, "That is so Lauren!" Lets get #DocumentaryProjectEmpathy out there for the world to hear about! Attached is my letter to Ms. Winfrey. Please share this post so even if I dont get to have my own couch jumping- Tom Cruise moment on her show, at least the message of this inspiring documentary will be out into the universe for all to learn about and perhaps support as well. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting us this far! .... Dear Oprah and Staff, September 1st, 2013 It is with excitement and pure passion that I write to you and your team today. My name is Lauren Hubbard, I am a 26 year old former Peace Corps (Rwanda 2012) Volunteer. I have a degree in Political Science / Pre Law from the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!) and have contributed my time and heart to many nonprofit and volunteer groups internationally. I am reaching out today to ask for not anything but a platform to have a voice heard for a project I am working on that I truly believe will inspire people around the world. In 2011, I started my own nonprofit called P.E.A.C.E. (People Embracing Ageless Change Everywhere). PEACE’s mission is to help raise awareness and capital for other organizations so that they may succeed and continue to flourish with their efforts. For example, the first benefit we hosted was a Black Tie Event in honor of my mother’s 50th birthday; and to pay it forward we raised awareness and relief for CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse). CASA helps ensure the safety of mothers and children who have left abusive and unfortunate situations. We raised $5,000 in donations for CASA as well as hygienic products for those in the CASA shelters. It was an outstanding event. After graduation I was offered a position with the Heart of America Foundation, based in Washington DC. Through the efforts of the Heart of America and our main sponsor, Target, we were traveling across the nation rebuilding and revitalizing Title I elementary school libraries, bringing in 7 books per student to keep for their personal collection, and shelving their new library with 2,000 new books. We also worked with the local food banks to bring in over 40,000 tons of food to feed the families for the rest of the year. The idea is to promote literacy, and ensure the quality of learning by making sure these children who are on 95% free and reduced government subsidized lunch are able to focus on their education without the worry of their when they will have their next meal. (You even hosted a show on one of our library makeovers in 2010.) From DC I received my Peace Corps invitation to serve in Rwanda as a health volunteer seeing to children and families with AIDS and HIV as well as working on the malaria initiative. My service was cut short due to a death in my family. I obliged with Peace Corps protocol and early terminated my time with Peace Corps to return home and tend to family. As I returned home I soon became depressed and had symptoms of PTSD. I was on antidepressants and in bed for 5 months. What could I do in America that would equal or signify the amazing work I had the honor of being chosen for, and left prematurely? I was lost. Through that time I wrote and illustrated my first children’s book called, Ellie The Elephant, available and self-published on Amazon. I also ran in the Miss NC USA 2013 Pageant as “Miss Raeford”, and ended up winning Miss Congeniality NC USA 2013. Easter weekend came of this year and I decided to move back to Florida and pursue my art. I stopped my antidepressants cold turkey and created an online art boutique called Mugiraneza Gallery and recently have been asked to showcase my art September 20th in a local art show. The money made from selling my art will go to help fund the village I once served. The name Mugiraneza was given to me by my host family, it means, “one who is kind to everyone.” My heart is still in Rwanda and the experience of living and working in a village with no electricity or water resurfaces in my mind as the greatest achievement of my life. So here we are present day. I recently met a man named John Kent. He has a nonprofit called the Torus Charity Group. He is a published author, and his most recent book (in the works of being published) is called “Your Life is Your Message.” Through the collaboration of both PEACE and Torus Charity Group we have come up with the idea to go back to Rwanda and make a documentary. We want to showcase and document the lives and stories of these people in the community and build an “earthship” (a solar powered) community center in the middle of the village where I served, Nyamabuye. You see, Oprah, I came to find that these people in Rwanda are living life right. They have what Americans would call “nothing” and yet they live with what Americans strive to achieve for in life, happiness. John and I want to capture the community culture presence in the village and bring it back to share with America, because while only in western civilization do we feel money is the link to our happiness we also live with a material high. Through the more things we have, we are then successful and therefore we can attain happiness. This perception could not be further from the truth. To travel back to Rwanda and share the stories of those that overcame the genocide 19 years ago (like my host family) that live next door to the perpetrators who took their families, yet reconcile with peace and feed the mouths of those children who have no homes, all while giving the shirt off their back as well in the process, is what community culture is all about, and it still exists! This documentary, “Project Empathy” will highlight and humanize issues of social importance from around the world. It will explore broad social issues through engaging stories that have potential impact and the ability to inspire dialogue. This film will challenge the status quo by examining people who are ignored, ostracized or otherwise marginalized.We want to create a shift in the first world. We want to make a dent in the universe. We want to show compassion through humanity efforts and underscore what is important in life. We want to inspire. I write to you, a woman who has an international platform and captures the attention of millions, who shares what issues are important, what books to be read next, who inspires us all, to be a part of this project. As a humanitarian yourself, I ask from the depth of my heart for you to help us promote this documentary and gain support from our community and worldwide so that we may explore the realm of possibilities that await not only us but also the village that once cared for me without hesitation and taught me the meaning of what life and happiness really is. We look forward to your response. Thank you for your time, Lauren E. Hubbard Lauren E. Hubbard DocumentaryProjectEmpathy@gmail
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 14:58:48 +0000