Landmark Forum Graduate Ginny Dixon is a participant in the Team Management and Leadership Program and her Team Game in the world for this last quarter is called Raw Beauty. Dixon has been travelling the world and making a living through her photography for over 20 years, winning two Pulitzer prizes for her work with the Los Angeles Times. During that time, she has participated in a variety of powerful projects that make a difference, including a photographic tribute to breast cancer survivors. In this game, she uses her skills to set up photo shoots for women with disabilities to give the experience of being a fashion model.
The following story was written by Ernie Vidovic as he participated in Landmark Education’s Team Management and Leadership Program, Team 1, in Toronto in 2007.
One of the most special people I have ever come across was Maddie Babineau. Maddie lost her battle with cancer on May 15, 2007. Her courage, strength, and wisdom touched people deeply. Maddie’s smiles were contagious. She was known as the girl who gave away her wish.
Through the Children’s Wish Foundation, Maddie gave her one wish away to kids in Africa. By building a school in a rural community in the Maasai Mara, Maddie helped children receive the gift of education. She further raised funds to bring water to the community by building a well and continued to fundraise on her own so she could realize her ultimate dream of fully adopting this Kenyan community.
After the Team Management and Leadership Program Weekend in Newport Beach back in June 2007, I was inspired to create a run of some sort involving teens. It was my daughter, coincidentally named Madison, who suggested we use this run to carry on her schoolmate’s legacy. I loved this idea and created a Game in the World entitled “Run Like You’re M.A.D (Making A Difference)”. Through sharing, I immediately had two team members, my daughter and Maddie’s mother, Sharon Babineau!
This run has spawned an enormous interest within the teenage community and within the schools. I have a team of more than 30 people working at creating the magical event. People are literally showing up and demanding to join the team. What these people truly see is possibility –for themselves, their students, their families, and, most notably, for the children who live in poverty with no access to education or clean water.
Unbelievable results! Unbelievable conversations! Brian Melo, Canadian Idol winner is hosting the event. The Free the Children Foundation is our prime supporter. We’ll have press coverage on CNN and CBC programs highlighting Maddie.
It’s about being on a rampage for communication! And,the winning is easy. My game wins because it is not about me. For three quarters, I played small – as an identity.The second I gave that up, ridiculous results were produced. OUR event is planned for the first week in May 2008. It promises to have over 7000 teens making a difference and “Being” Leadership. Young teens, Maddie’s best friends, and teachers – witnessing people see themselves M.A.D. – making a difference – has caused enormous fulfillment in my life. All this and seeing my own daughter stepping into her leadership and excited about something so huge has left me in awe of the results. Speaking the words, being in communication, and watching it unfold just because I said so. Succulent!
Craig and Marc Kielburger published a book called “Me to We”. I am so clear on what that title means. WE are taking steps in the right direction. WE are making a difference in the world. I truly thank the Team Management and Leadership Program body and Landmark Education for allowing me the opportunity to grow into an individual that chooses to be ALIVE! I got my life out of this program and I got a relationship with my daughter in the most unexpected way! It’s the fulfillment of the reason I signed onto this program.
The time is NOW. Be the difference!
Who I am is a stand in the world for eradicating povertyand suffering in the world, and ensuring that every childhas the basic right to go to school. Making a difference iseasy – you just have to declare that you will be it, do it,and your word will build your world!
Maddie’s family hopes to see the dream of “Maddie’s Village” become a reality. To support Maddie’s wish to Adopt a Village, visit the site www.maddieswishproject.com which her family has created. Together, we can carry Maddie’s legacy forward and make her dream come true.
/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Team-Beyond-White-200px.png00TMLP/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Team-Beyond-White-200px.pngTMLP2008-01-31 16:36:452008-01-31 16:36:45Ask Me Why I'm M.A.D.
Here is a collection of websites for great games in the world creatd in Landmark Education’s Team, Management and Leadership Program.
www.peaceilluminations.org
– Global citizen, Bart Kresa, is a much sought afterlighting designer and graduate of Team 2, Team Los Angeles. Bart created the visuals for the Peace Illuminations Light Project in Los Angeles. The Peace Illuminations team is expanding the game to bring art and light to buildings in all corners of the world.
www.opportunitygreen.com/greenbusinessblog/ – growing profitable, socially responsible, and sustainable enterprises
www.heartgalleryofbroward.com – traveling photography exhibit of foster children awaiting permanent homes; photographed by volunteer professional photographers
www.youngvoicesri.org – leadership program in Providence, Rhode Island, training youth to become powerful advocates who are transforming their schools, police, and community through partnership with adults
www.kidsglobaloutreach.org – teens in the United States fundraising for children in orphanages around the world
www.healthefamily.net – healing families, moving them to communicate, love, create abundance, & peace
www.ntec.org – Global Green Indigenous Environmental Film Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico, bringing Mother Earth healing through the collective efforts of all people on the planet; partnership with the National Tribal Environmental Council
www.erasebreastcancer.org – global conversation on breast health awareness
www.letlovelead.org – arts and action making a difference for children impacted by HIV/Aids in local and global communities
www.globalleadershipnetwork.org – transformational global leadership organization
www.littlegeeks.org – putting an internet connected computer in the hands of every child on the planet
www.realmilkcanada.com – make available naturally produced unprocessed milk
www.blocknurse.org/payne – transforming healthcare in Minnesota; aging with independence and dignity
www.alliancewatergardencenter.com – providing global veterans and their families acknowledgment, completion, and healing with watergardens
www.awildstory.com – supporting the preservation of wild horses
/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Team-Beyond-White-200px.png00TMLP/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Team-Beyond-White-200px.pngTMLP2008-01-31 15:52:392008-01-31 15:52:39Team on the Web
He had no legs below his knees and asked me to carry his surfboard at the beach one day. I walked across the sand carrying our boards to the water. He crawled beside me on all fours. We had a great conversation.
As we talked, I was moved by the normality of it all. So often, those with disabilities are held up as “inspirational†and “special.†What Trevor’s listening gave me was a profound feeling of normalcy; we were just two guys going surfing. We talked about the waves, the water, his job, mine. By the time we got to the surf I felt comfortable enough to ask him about his legs. “I was born without a tibia or fibula,†he said, referring to the bones in the leg. And with that, we hit the waves. That was the only time I met him, but our conversation made a lasting impression.
A few days later I was watching the news and saw a report about Iraq War vets coming home with disabilities. After war and injury and now with civilian life, it struck me that these men and women must be feeling anything but “normal.†From that, Operation Amped was born.
Now in its second year, Operation Amped kicked off with a three day event (August 10-12) in Southern California where surfers share their love of the ocean with Iraq War vets who are now missing limbs as a result of their service. Twenty soldiers, sailors and Marines will be coming from Palo Alto, Texas and San Diego for a weekend-long surf camp sponsored by Billabong, Universal Pictures and Chipotle.
The possibilities of the event are freedom, transformation and fun. In Iraq, these vets were told they were fighting for our freedom.
As surfers, we can’t think of any greater expression of what they fought for than the freedom of surfing itself. If they are feeling somehow constrained by public opinion, their circumstances or the challenges of life, this event will give amputees the opportunity to enter a totally alien environment and see that anything is possible.
This year, Operation Amped is going national… and international.
But a few weeks ago, our milestones weren’t being met and we were struggling to find funding, food and leaders. I was distraught and worried. Then I got some advice from my coach, Gail. She told me my game didn’t have to look a certain way. What I got was I was trying to do it “right,†the “normal†way. Once I gave that up, things started to happen.
One of our leaders, Dave, announced that Operation Wounded Warrior, a co-sponsor, is looking at our project as a trial run. If it goes well, OWW will take Amped to other cities. It’s also looking at taking vets to Costa Rica to surf!
On other fronts, my foodie friend Michael decided to round up the chefs he knows to donate meals. And my friend, David (you know, the one who has declined ALL my Landmark invitations), has raised $6000 to help us meet our goals.
Now Operation Amped is right on track, already providing freedom, transformation and fun even before the first vet rides the first wave. And no one has benefited more than me.
By sharing freedom, I got freedom myself.
— Tom Tapp, Team Los Angeles
The Wave for Peace enters the Super Bowl Feb. 3rd, 2008
Who I am is the possibility of peace, love and inspiration.
Hi, my name is Linda Gancitano. I am on Team Florico and this is my Game.
1 year ago:
Who would have thought 3 months after the Landmark Forum that I would be committed to world peace in this lifetime? This possibility arrived in the mountains of Colorado. I was watching the Free Hugs Campaign on YouTube. The inspiration came from that experience and caused me to envision a world of peace. And what that looked like for me was that for one moment in time the entire world be present to peace.
I knew I had only 3 months for my Self Expression and Leadership Program project to get this idea into action. The vision came and I saw the event – The Wave for Peace enters the Super Bowl on Feb. 4th 2007 in Miami, Florida.
In every sporting event, the spectators perform the wave. Well, this particular WAVE would have a purpose and intention. This wave would be the Wave for Peace. Billions of people across the world would be watching this event. What better way to get the message across to the world?
The Wave for Peace didn’t happen last year at the Super Bowl.
We all know that life doesn’t always turn out the way we would like it to but what came from that intention was that three schools in Broward County had a Week of Peace. The Week of Peace brought awareness to our environment, our homes and communities. We had an incredible TEAM of teachers and students that created this event at each of the school. Over 2500 students on Jan. 31,2007 went out to their football fields and participated in the Wave. The Wave for Peace was seen from the air by a helicopter. Other media sources covered the event such as NBC, Telemundo TV, and the Miami Herald.
There was a peace rally 3 months later where one city had people at a stadium standing for peace. We may never know the impact of what that event caused for those students but what we do know is that the fights and suspensions were down for the week at our school The most important question we asked the students daily was “How can each one of us make a difference in our own lives to bring peace?â€
Present day: Team Management and Leadership Program Weekend, Denver, CO, November 2007
One year ago this vision for world peace lingers. I joined TMLP in Denver, Co. where over 600 Landmark
Graduates were attending this event. I was informed that I have a Game in the World to put into action. I also was informed that I would create a TEAM of people to play this game. Our TEAM is looking for other people that are up to world peace.
What I hadn’t anticipated was that we are all being confronted with our own greatness, integrity and power. Communication is an access to power in creating the world we want to live. What I am getting from this experience is that peace is a way of being and we get to choose in every moment of our lives. Who are we going to be in the present moment and next moment no matter what? The GAME is still expanding and my request of TEAM Landmark is who can further this game so that on Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 3rd, 2008 in Arizona every person in the world is present to world peace as a possibility now!
Future: Global Weekend Los Angeles, CA, February 2008
1.Video of the Wave for Peace is captured during the Super Bowl Feb. 3, 2008, and shown to all TMLP participants at the Global Weekend.
2. People from all over the world were contacting the NFL, TV network and Landmark to say how incredible the event was for them and how it transformed their lives
3.World Transformation is realized. Every country is supporting each other in creating the possibility of peace, health and happiness!!
One Event, One TEAM, One Message for One Moment
The Wave for Peace enters the Super Bowl Feb.3rd, 2008
The Vision
In every sporting event for years, people have been participating in the Wave which usually goes in the clockwise direction. The vision is to have the Wave go in a new direction. This new direction will represent Peace. The Wave for Peace would be the symbol of “What If?†What if we do something different and choose to live in a world of Peace? A wave for change is the wave for peace
How can you further the game?
/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Team-Beyond-White-200px.png00Masha Calloway/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Team-Beyond-White-200px.pngMasha Calloway2008-01-04 21:50:322008-01-04 21:50:32Wave for Peace
