PeaceTags in Tanzania!

It's always amazing to learn what PeaceTags' wearers are up to in the world! Recently I had the chance to chat with Tiana D. She's pictured here during a recent volunteerism journey to Tanzania. Her experience in the East African country was a powerful source of life lessons. (Scroll down for the interview.)
Question: Why Tanzania Tiana?
Tiana: Well, I was always drawn to Africa. A college class on the culture and beauty of the region really intrigued me. Tanzania is home to the Serengeti, the people are fascinating, and the need for volunteers seemed clear.
Question: What was your job there?
Tiana: I was a teacher in a village called Karanga, just outside the city of Moshi. The school was for disabled people and my students ranged from 5 to 35 years old. The disabilities ranged from major physical challenges to slight learning dysfunction such as dyslexia. Mainly I taught math and reading. (scroll down)

Question: The photos of the kids with your PeaceTag are so great!. Did you wear it often?

Tiana: I wore it almost every day--the kids loved it! And I learned how to say "All we are saying is give peace a chance in Swahili!!!!"

Question: Why did you choose that PeaceTag?
Tiana: It was a gift from my Mom who happens to LOVE John Lennon! And as teacher, it was perfect. I found myself constantly thinking "give peace a chance, give peace a chance" when I needed more patience! (Scroll down)

Question: Where did you find peace in your experience?
Tiana: I found peace in the community. The people were so warm and welcoming and had the biggest hearts! No matter how little a family had, when you entered their home they prepared food for you. Sharing a meal was a true way of connecting and showing honor and respect.
Question: Was there anything that made you feel less at peace?
Tiana: Sometimes when we made home visits, I realized that they were sharing the only food they had. That made me uncomfortable, but it would have been seen as very disrespectful to reject their hospitality. (Scroll down)
Question: What else did you learn from volunteering in East Africa?
Tiana: It's daunting to realize how great the need is for education and economic resources in third world countries. To see it firsthand really impacted me. I felt as though my time there was not enough. I want to return. Volunteers can make a difference but it takes a lot of time and effort.
Thank you Tiana for living out the PeaceTags motto: think about, talk about and work for peace!

PeaceTags supports A Million Minutes for Peace!

This video is very powerful isn't it? PeaceTags is proud to support A Million Minutes for Peace. This initiative created by our friends at Odyssey Networks is so simple, it's brilliant! At noon, on September 21st, International Day of Peace, they are working to get one million (or more) people to stop for ONE MINUTE to think about, focus upon, meditate, or pray for peace in whatever way is comfortable. Hey, you could simply read through the PeaceTags quotes, every one of those lines from a famous peacemaker is like a little prayer!

Visit the site, pledge to participate, and mark your calendar for noon on September 21st!

PeaceTags helps fund "Healing Garden"....

PeaceTags helped provide funds toward a "Healing Garden" that was dedicated last week at the Fisher House on the grounds of Seattle's VA Medical Center!

The Garden was introduced as another way the Fisher House helps veterans families find respite and solace. A speaker noted that "the garden is a way to sooth their souls and refresh their spirits," as family members stay in this home while their loved one is undergoing medical treatment at the VA Hospital.

Students from the UW Landscape Architecture School designed and installed the beautiful garden. Associate Professor, Daniel Winterbottom talked about the power of gardens to heal, inspire and restore. He eloquently described how this collaboration could lead to future VA Projects, expanding the healing power of gardens and nature to the greater veteran population!

We are proud and honored to help with projects like this. And we are so grateful to all of you PeaceTags Ambassadors who make it happen simply by wearing and talking about a beautiful necklace!!!!! Thank you so much!

Announcing the Maya Angelou PeaceTag!!!

You know how some moments simply take your breath away? That's what happened when I received word that the beautiful, amazingly talented Dr. Maya Angelou had composed a quote about peace for PeaceTags!

This Global Renaissance Woman has a passionate voice that needs to be heard, today. Her peace quote is profound in its simplicity. She says, "Peace is more than, and other than, the absence of war. Peace is the permanent presence of good will." What powerful words those are! (scroll down.)I had two main objectives in creating PeaceTags. The first was to create a beautiful piece of jewelry that would help veterans and their families. We are doing that through our affiliation with the Fisher House Foundation, (please check out their work, it's wonderful),

and some other outstanding non-profit organizations.

Just as importantly, another objective was to encourage people to consider the words of our greatest sages in these turbulent times. Many have spoken of peace. And, my hope is many more will! (come on you gifted creative minds, we need you NOW!)

The next time you are stressed, someone in the office or at home is driving you nuts, or you are about to say or do something decidedly not peaceful, consider that last line of Dr. Angelou's quote. Let it move you in a positive direction!

In addition to our website, http://www.peacetags.com/, you can see the Maya Angelou PeaceTag at these top independent jewelry stores: Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler (Bellevue/Seattle), Kern Jewelers (Burlingame, CA), OC Tanner Jewelers (Park City, Utah) Ringmaster Jewelers (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) Shreve Jewelers (San Francisco, CA), Traditional Jewelers (Newport Beach, CA)

PeaceTags....one "tag" at a time!

Recently, PeaceTags sponsored a REALLY special evening at the Seattle Fisher House!!!! Pictured here are talented young people from Sacred Heart School, Brief Encounter Cafe's owners Mel and Amanda, and Patti and I representing PeaceTags.

The kids entertained the Fisher House guests with musical performances (Here two brothers and two sisters in a "family band" rock the room! ) The portrait on the wall is Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher; Fisher House Founders whose amazing organization created more than 44 of these homes across the country and around the world. Check them out here: http://www.fisherhouse.org/.

The Brief Encounter Cafe gals prepared an absolutely delicious dinner for everyone! PeaceTags' Patti got Mel and Amanda onboard as PeaceTags Ambassadors a couple years ago! When you visit their fabulous Bellevue restaurant, the staff is usually wearing PeaceTags and veterans get loads of TLC!!! Since launching PeaceTags, my dream has been to engage people in the PeaceTags mission-to help veterans and their families and spread peace one tag at a time. If you think about it, "tag" can mean much more than the literal pendant we sell. Taken metaphorically, it can mean touching others (like you did in the schoolyard game), or connecting with other people.

That is exactly what happened this night at the Fisher House, lots of meaningful connections! (Here is Seattle Fisher House manager Cecile connecting with St. Louis Fisher House manager, Rachel. These ladies are FANTASTIC!!!) Sacred Heart served as our test school for the PeaceTags School Initiative. We created a limited edition version of our trademarked product, and they sold it as part of their fund raising auction and retained some of the proceeds.

As part of the Initiative, PeaceTags offered curriculum and community service suggestions to engage the students in veteran's care and peacemaking.

Through the support of some dedicated parents, (Vanessa, Lisa, Laura et al!)the PeaceTags School Initiative was a stunning win/win for Sacred Heart and PeaceTags! We look forward to developing this further and offering the program to schools across the country

Here are some more photos of the wonderful performers who brought peace and joy to the guests of the Fisher House (all guests have loved ones/veterans being treated at the VA Hospital and are under a lot of stress) PeaceTags' photographer is Angela Carlyle of Angela and Evan Photography (http://www.angelaandevan.com/) She also does brilliant wedding photos! Enjoy! Peace Out!

Michael Oher gets Peace-tagged!!!

Okay, how's this for cool---on Wednesday, Patti and I got to meet the gifted, charming, and totally humble Michael Oher! In addition to being an NFL Football star, Michael's life inspired a little movie called "The Blind Side".

Michael was presented with a PeaceTag prior to him sharing his moving personal story to a packed room of 1200 supporters of Treehouse. Treehouse is an AMAZING organization devoted to giving foster kids a childhood and a future.

PeaceTags salutes people like Michael Oher and our friends at Treehouse who are creating more peace in the world through helping kids find their way to a better life!

How will you make tomorrow more peaceful than today?

PeaceTags at the Sundance Film Festival!

PeaceTags held a trunk show at OC Tanner Jewelers in Park City, Utah January 21st and 22nd.. Thank you to Curtis, Robyn and their FABULOUS crew for making us feel so welcome! OC Tanner Jewelers was a corporate sponsor of the Sundance Film festival and PeaceTags were featured at one of their fun in-store events.

Lots of the Seattle PeaceTags Posse were in attendance, including Julie, Patti, Maura, Vanessa and the fabulous Mr. JJ McKay!

Among the highlights of the trip, we got to see an AMAZING documentary called "Restrepo" which won the Sundance grand jury prize. The film chronicles the deployment of a platoon of US soldiers in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. Watch this film and for 90 minutes you will know what it's like to be in a war zone.

This film reminds us why we are doing what we do at PeaceTags. Our mission is to help veterans and spread peace one tag at at a time.

I hope more uber talented filmmakers will take on subjects like PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (Traumatic brain injury). We need to really see the consequences...

Now go out and make it a peaceful day!!!!