Leilani and I were thrilled to see each other again. I was blown away by all that she has accomplished since she participated in our program in 2008 at the LA Mission on Skid Row. She told me that we awakened the artist in her; until that day she didn’t know she could create anything. After that revelation, she kept painting, formed an artists group, became an advocate for other homeless people and now runs a women’s empowerment art program on Skid Row that she co-founded. Wow!
Click on the player to listen to my interview with Leilani Interview With Leilani
We were attending a screening of “Humble Beauty” at the Crafts museum on Wilshire Blvd. in LA. The film is about the amazing art community that is blossoming in Skid Row. In the film and the discussions that followed, I could see the emergence of a real community, people inspired by their art and who they are. Now THAT is super inspiring to me and is the essence of the Hearts Of Fire Project.
Way to go, Bob and Leilani! The way that you pursue your passions inspires the world. We are all learning how to trust and love more effectively—and that is what the process of enlightenment is all about.