You, Me, and the Creation of Change.

I attended an event last night called “Apathy is Dead – Fresh Media ReMixology 5: Digital Democracy”, where social media and politics were discussed by a panel of amazing and active youth (http://freshmedia.me/).

This was the major question: How do we use digital technology and social media (eg. Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to create progressive change?

Politics is perceived by youth as something we just don’t want to deal with. I am fully one of those who have NEVER been interested in any kind of political conversation of any kind. The question is: What will it take to start caring?

It’s a Social Sciences theory that every four generations there is one hero generation. At some point of this hero generation’s young adult life, a huge crisis strikes. Examples of this in other hero generations are The Revolutionary War, The Civil War, and the last one being WW2.

Generation Y’s (born between 1982 and 2003) just so happen to fall under the Hero Generation. We’ve grown up in a society where limited thinking and working under a conservative eye is the norm. At what point do we youth realize that we are self-empowered to the point of no limitation? When will we see that we are the ones to create massive change?

Nothing will happen unless collaboration occurs and we become a collective. We cannot afford to dream and then not take action. The power of GenY is that we have the ability to re-imagine and re-create society just by showing up and participating. We are the largest, most diverse, and most connected generation ever to exist and we are in one of the most critical planetary situations in history.  It is our time and our voice that will make a difference.

Moving back to the caring-about-politics topic. The federal election in Canada is coming up May 2^nd. In the last election it was the least amount of people who voted in history (I didn’t care at ALL about voting). After discovering how much of a difference it really can make I am ready to put my ballot in and be part of a collective movement that focuses on re-creating accountability of the government to society and going after what we truly desire.

Zach Gray from the band, The Zolas, is a huge supporter of the Gen Why Media Project and he performed, along with Hannah Epperson and Adrian Glynn, last night as well. Here’s a video of an acoustic version of "You're Too Cool" by The Zolas to check out.

Leap of Life Loves the West Coast

I’m just going to clarify on some questions I had about my previous blog. Leap of Life Apparel is most definitely starting as a retail business, however, the clothing part is not the focus. Our main focus is spreading consciousness on self-empowerment and that have the ability to do whatever it is we desire, all it takes is ACTION. 

A percentage (not yet determined, since I’m still working on figuring out costs) will be donated to organizations that focus on the conservation of the West Coast. I grew up on the West Coast and I heart the West Coast very much, and I want to support environmental sustainability as best I can. On some of the garments I will share some of my photography that I have taken over that past few years and photos that mean a lot to me. I am only using responsible companies with great ethics as suppliers and artists who are just as passionate about creating positive change in our society and environment as I am.

One of these artists that I strongly support is local musician Dan Mangan. I went to an event of his called Smorgasbord last week in Vancouver and it was amazing to see the turnout. All of the proceeds went to three small Vancouver homeless initiatives. I have to say that Dan Mangan is proving to be quite a presence in our city. He’s such a talented musician and is using his great music as a channel to raise awareness of the homeless situation in Vancouver. 

Our mayor Gregor Robertson was also there and presented the youth initiative awards and played the tuba alongside Mr. Mangan. I had no idea he was so charismatic; definitely opened my eyes to what an amazing person he is as well. Other artists also performed including The Crackling, Aiden Knight, Charlie Demers (comedian) and Mike McGee (spoken word). I had no idea I loved spoken word the way I do until I heard Mike McGee share his stories. I strongly suggest you check him out!

Intro to Leap of Life

Leap of Life Apparel is more of a project rather than a company. It is a visionary collaboration with multiple inspirations from different genres of society with a goal of bringing together retail, music, sports, and social media. Leap of Life aims to inspire Gen Y’s to go after their real passions and dreams and DO what they REALLY want to do. Why not?

It all started for me when I took a volunteer trip to Kigali, Rwanda with OA Projects, (www.oaprojects.org) where I met amazing children who had nothing, yet from their perspectives, everything. When we arrived with our soccer balls and TOMS shoes (www.toms.com), we were received with all smiles and were each given nicknames from the kids (mine was “Twiga”, meaning giraffe in Kinyarwandan). For a week we changed their lives and I was able to see how easily happiness could be spread.

A year ago I returned from a four-month backpacking trip through South East Asia where I discovered true beauty and bliss within myself and in the world. It changed how I perceive everything and I came home with a mission. 

What mission? I had absolutely no idea, all I knew was it involved inspiring serious change in our society and doing it any way possible. I also knew that my career wasn’t going to be anything normal or conventional, that I was to create my own career. I was excited to let the creativity begin!

I then spent the next year living the extreme conventional life and getting sucked into a major corporation. Progressive right?

One night I went to an event with my mum held by The Gen Why Media Project (www.genwhymediaproject.com). It was a Gen Y/Boomers event where several topics were discussed/debated by both Gen Y’s and Boomers. There was one discussion where a locally reknowned female film director stated a strong message that we take a “leap of life” and go after our dreams and do what our hearts are telling us. What she said really resonated with me and I left thinking THIS is what I need to do. I need to quit my job and just DO it.

Leap of Life Apparel was born. It’s obviously still in the beginning stages, but I’m going after what I’ve always wanted to do and following my heart.

Now I want to ask you. What’s your passion? What is it you want to go after? 

This song's always given me motivation. Kick back and listen. 

Love, Binz (my nickname)