Greetings, how have you been, long time, I haven't seen you since........the familiar words of friends who haven't spoken in a while and we feel this way about you. Whether we meet you at one of our live shows back in the days (Big Up El Mocambo) or through community building or you just plain stumbled upon our website (GREAT), we are truly thrilled that you have taken the time to look around the site and read our blog. We hope you were able to get an idea of who we are, what we do and what we stand for, if not, let me sum it up in one simple word, LOVE. We stand for LOVE of our community and communities across the globe, the LOVE of our young people, especially those mislabeled and misunderstood. We stand for the LOVE and belief that we can collectively solve the challenges  facing us, within the space of LOVE, TOGETHERNESS and PEACE. This may sound a bit well... corny, but having learned from many elders and re-membering knowledge left to us by our ancestors, we have come to realize that LOVE is the strongest force in the UNIVERSE. LOVE can heal humanity and the multi- layered connections that exist between us and Mother Earth. We don't claim to have all the answers, nor can we solve all the problems, but we WILL NOT stand by and do nothing. What we are doing is contributing one path to the variety of pathways that exist on the road towards a more meaningful existence. We are not in a box, we are constantly creating; youth projects, events, gatherings to celebrate the seasons, global learning adventures, workshops, you name it. Although we are constantly co-creating with others in the community the one theme that strings it's way through all the initiatives seeks to answer the questions; How can our lives be more meaningful? How can we re-connect with one another on a deeper level and fulfill our life's purpose? These are not easy questions but the answers are truly inspiring and what continually motivates us to keep pushing forward piece by peace...
POR AMOR

So it seems as though there is this common energy out there with many of the people I know and respect who are amazing, forward thinking, boundary breaking, bringing back the ancestral knowledge community builders- we are all emotionally and mentally tired of playing the grant game, of "prove to us that your worthy". Many of my fellow educators and builders including myself are trying to figure of what is the healthy, holistic means to accomplish our ideals and visions. Its seems social enterprise is the way to go, where over 50% of our revenue is coming from the "amazing" business idea that is crying to be formulated in 2012. The rational is this,  visions for community shouldn't live or die because a funder says so or because a political party comes in that "na make no sense" (as my granny says) regarding  views on healthy communities. Rather community visions should be based on there meaningfulness and relevance to the communities they are serving. I'm sure even the funders would agree ( if you do and you think I'm brillant, please mail all cheques to) ....all jokes aside. As the title of a book I need to buy say's "The Revolution will not be Funded" and why would it- that would be a pretty controlled, playground revolution,  I'm left still wondering how my visions are going to be funded and my friends.  As I am writing this , the wheels have been put into motion (inspired during a mid day vacuuming at that !) to bringing some sharp, dedicated, motivated and might I say quite cute, women together ,to open up to what the universe may have in store for us, that would allow us all to collectively fund our separate but amazingly dope (do we still use dope in 2012) community initiatives. My thoughts are, if the people I'm building with can not  build upon business ideas to generate that paper currency we all need to do thing RIGHT, then I'm not sure who can, and then I'm not sure exactly what I'm gonna do next, and then I'm not---- ohhh the journey to manifest one's dream, maybe I should get a "real" job ....nahhhhhhhhhhhh that would be, de-motivating, time stealing, have to beg to leave early because my kid is sick , all around dream sucking ,too easy -cuz im blessed option (no offense to my friends who have jobs , I'm speaking to the people out there who hate their jobs.... anyhow something will come through, it has to ,it always does.........right universe!  RIGHT (who said that)

Tanika Riley