author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
creativity
Bob Bates
inventor. educator. artist.
Artist, musician, inventor, and educator Bob Bates is the Artistic Director of Inner-City Arts, an art space on Skid Row where at-risk children explore their creativity, learn, and grow. [www.inner-cityarts.org]
I’m amazed to know that our lives are full of creativity and human potential. Creativity is a force, like fire burning in darkness, drawing us to its warmth and mystery. Inspiration flows from us in endless variety and beauty. I believe it speaks to us and calls us to participate in acts of service to humankind. I want to share a true story about a life-changing encounter I had with this mystery.
About 25 years ago, while meditating in my studio in downtown Los Angeles, in the silence of my mind I heard a man’s voice quietly say: “Get an art space for kids.” I meditated on this and realized that I’d had a vision that presented me with a unique opportunity to be of service to my fellow humans.
I thought, “How do I know if this is real and from God?” At the time, I worked at a youth center in the afternoons and, strangely, when I went to work the next day, there in the middle of the multipurpose space was a huge flat of hundreds of large tubes of oil and acrylic paint that had been donated to us. That was very unusual! I remember thinking, “How interesting. But you still have to prove it to me.” When I went home that night, leaning against the door to our loft was a grant proposal for artists in schools and public places. I didn’t know it at the time, but no one in our building had applied for it! Well, I stood there in the hallway holding that proposal, reflected, looked up, and said out loud, “OK, I’ll do it!”
Several years went by, but all the while that message never left my thoughts. I kept doing my art, teaching, meditating, and praying. For many years, I was the artistic director for a summer camp held at a local school. One day, a wealthy man from Beverly Hills named Irv Jaeger came down to check out the work we were doing. We hit it off, became friends, and a few years later started Inner-City Arts.
I taught the first classes and Irv paid the first bills. Since then, the school has grown tremendously in size and has become a renowned school for art and creativity. We have a unique facility that allows thousands students of all ages a safe place to learn, develop, and grow their skills in visual arts, dance, drama, music, ceramics, animation, creativity, invention, and exploration.
I’m still here now, at age 70, working at the school, doing my art, inventing, meditating, praying, and contemplating the mysteries of Life.
-Bob Bates
Explore More Meaning
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writer. single mom. awakened soul.
Dawn Garcia is a writer, screenwriter, editor, single mom, believer of dreams, beauty, truth, and hope. Since the moment she could put pen to paper she knew she had found her purpose. [www.atodmagazine.com]
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marketing expert. calfinder. community builder.
Gabriel Luna-Ostaseski co-founded CalFinder, where he directs global sales and operations. Before that, he managed Varsity Painting, one of the largest construction companies in California. [www.linkedin.com/in/gabelunaostaseski]
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team builder. motivator. creator.
Ruth Grodek founded Creation, a company that coaches senior management teams and individual leaders to be authentic, powerful, inspiring, and compassionate. [www.creation-uk.com]
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big picturer. former linebacker. current give-backer.
Ryan Nece's community influence has lasted long after he finished his career as an National Football League player. He created The Ryan Nece Foundation, which provides physical, financial, and spiritual assistance to those in need. [www.ryannece.com]
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Writer. Performing Artist. Educator.
Camille Maurine, author of Meditation Secrets for Women and Meditation 24/7, and creator of Moving Theater, gives performances and workshops worldwide. [www.camillemaurine.com]
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writer. mom. soul reporter.
Nikki Di Virgilio is a writer, mom, and wife who's interested in the soul-exploring journey we're all on. She's working on a memoir of her search for home. [www.nikkisacredspace.com]
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infant vocalist. continuous learner. light shiner.
Chandrika Tandon is a Grammy-nominated singer & composer who has received praise from NY Times for her "limpid, serene voice.” Her new album “Soul March” reinterprets “Raghupathi Raghava Raja Ram,” a song sung by Gandhi and his followers during the 1930 Salt March.
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producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
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