Welcome to the California State Video page.
Watch these videos and be inspired by ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
California begins with an interview of Stacy Lasky, Operations Officer for Families of
American Military (FAM). Spouses of our Military service men and women are often overlooked
for the sacrifices they must make. For Stacy Lasky it was 23 years of being married to her
military husband. While most people would consider this more than enough time to have given
back to her country Mrs. Lasky and her husband are not most people. When her husband
retired she saw a need for other military people who were retiring and who didn't have the
knowledge or understanding that they could do something as simple as own a home. And so,
FAM was born. Now working together with the husband she spent so much time apart from they
are helping military families get a fresh start by helping them navigate the processes of
home ownership. Perhaps it's no surprise that these hero's continue to give back to their
community and country after so many years. Watch this video and be inspired by what
incredible work Mrs. Lasky is doing and perhaps you too will find a way to help move your
community, your state, and this incredible country forward.
Still in San Diego we meet Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Second Chance. Scott
knows all about needing a second chance after going down a path of self destruction himself
and almost ending his own life. As he turned his life around he began helping others and
soon discovered that 'the system' wasn't designed to help those who needed it. Taking a
page out of his book "Tell me no, I dare you" Scott began a non profit to help those who
were homeless and former prisoners find jobs. in a state which has an 80% recidivism rate,
Second Chance is able to boast that it's program has over 70% of it's clients staying out
of prison and trouble. Watch this video of a man who not only completely turned his own
life around but is helping others do the same thing and ultimately moving his community,
his state, and one day he hopes, the whole country forward.
In Laguna Beach we find Jim Keegan. A longtime volunteer around the homeless, Jim noticed
that no one was serving the homeless of Laguna Beach breakfast and so for the last three
years he's been bringing coffee and pastries to them. But this homeless advocate doesn't
stop there. When the city began issuing tickets to homeless people because they were
sleeping outside, Jim began calling the lawyers. With persistence and the 8th amendment as
his reasoning he now has lawyers and the ACLU fighting to help those who have no place to
fight for. Watch this video of one man making a difference and helping those who have so
little. Be inspired by this man moving his community forward.
In Los Angeles we meet the incredible couple,Nouriel and Yaelle Cohen of Global Kindness.
Many people have been affected by the country's economy. Many people have lost all they
have. If you lived in Beverly Hills, had a successful business and then lost everything
what would you do? Watch this video of an incredible couple who lived in Beverly Hills, had
a successful business of their own and did lose everything, and then decided what they
needed to do was simplify their lives and focus on helping other people, which is exactly
what they did. With modest beginnings Global Kindness now feeds, clothes, and even pays
bills for people who cannot do it themselves. With plans to grow into a storefront, despite
the fact that the Cohens and their six children still don't have much themselves, this
couple continues to give what they do have, their time, their energy and their home. Be
inspired by this couple who have little but give so much.
In the next video we take a tour of Global Kindness Home. When most people say they open
their home to help other people they mean the spare room or perhaps the garage. In this
video you will see that Nouriel and Yaelle Cohen mean their ENTIRE home when they said they
were opening it to help other people. Watch as we take a tour through their home, yard, and
garage where every available space is used to receive, sort, and store food, clothes, and
other items donated to help those less fortunate. Though this is the current headquarters
for Global Kindness, the Cohens are hopeful that the will soon be able to expand into a
more suitable location. For information on how you can help go to www.myglobalkindness.org.
Still In Los Angeles we meet Dorothy Breininger. Born out of necessity when her best friend
and her best friend's husband both had their Fathers come to live with them, Saving Our
Parents was born. With books, DVD's and organizational tools, watch this video of a
passionate woman who believes that helping the elder generation is not only something we
should do but something that benefits all of us. For the elderly it's a chance to live the
remainder of their lives peacefully knowing all is in order and that their history is being
preserved. For the children of parents it's a chance to really learn about who they are and
where you come from. Be inspired by what can happen when communities are improved by an
idea born of necessity and soon the community, the state, and ultimately the country are
moving forward.
Moving on to San Francisco, we interview Richard Rosenberg, former CEO of Bank Of America.
Watch this interview of a message from one CEO to other CEO's and to non-profit
organizations about how retirement is an opportunity for CEO's to take the skills they
garnered in the for profit sector and apply them to help the non-profit world. Be inspired
by a man who continues to give back to his community in many ways after heading one of the
largest companies in California and one of the most well known banks in the
country.
Next, an interview of Edward Hernandez. Growing up with music all his life, Edward found himself wanting to volunteer around music somehow but without a place to go. Along with a friend they devised an idea of tutoring at a local school to help students in the music classes. But when Edward and his friend found that the school had no music department they decided to do something about it. And so with little else but their own musical talent and a desire to help children incorporate music into their lives they began a music program at the school. Scrounging for help and instruments they were able to get enough of a start to enable a music concert at the end of the school year. Watch this video of a young man who simply saw a need and filled it. Be inspired by what you can do with your own passions in your community and help move America forward.
With a late nomination, we finish California with an internet interview of Ci Ci Foster and Mashari Bain of Flower Goddess Productions. Meet two actresses who got tired of the challenges of the motion picture industry and the facades and superficiality and decided to do something about it. They formed Flower Goddess Productions to, as their website states, "Provide a platform for rising actors ... and other entertainment professionals to create projects that are a unique and candid reflection of the human experience". Watch this video to learn about their documentary about the real women of hollywood and find out how they created a calendar with 100% of the proceeds going to charity as a way of giving back despite the fact that they aren't the typical successful actors portrayed on tv. Be inspired by two women making a difference in the community they work and live in and who are determined to change the world by changing peoples perceptions of the true art of acting and making a difference in the lives of communities everywhere.
Below is a form for you to tell us what we might have missed while we were in California.
LET'S RALLY!
Welcome to your Pep Rally page.
This is your spot to tell America everything that rocks about where you live, watch the videos of the people who have inspired us and tell us your ideas for solving your own community problems.
This Journey is about you and about your community. I hope you have enjoyed my visit to your state and that you will be as inspired as I was!
Tell us about your State: California
Why you love where you live?
What is the best kept secret about your State?
What is your favorite attraction or location?
Ideas for solutions in your community?
Who did we miss? Problem solvers and idea generators?
Your Name
Your Email
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IMAGES
STATE VIDEOS
Stacy Lasky - FAM
Scott Silverman
Jim Keegan
Nouriel and Yaelle Cohen
Global Kindness
Dorothy Breininger
Richard Rosenberg
Edward Hernandez
Flower Goddess Productions
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