Evolution of an Idea

I am a big believer in the Law of Attraction.  I have seen it impact my life and the lives of those around me.  I know that my thoughts are powerful contributors to the way my intentions are manifested.  How then after all of the challenges and negative experiences can I stay in the positive stream?  Perhaps this is the primary lesson I am meant to learn through all of this?

I have been working on the new vision and mission with little spurts and jumps.  The haltingness of the process has been frustrating, and there have been periods of deep lows.  Moments when I just sit and stare and wonder.  However, because of my own awareness of the important to both validate the present state of feeling, and the critical importance of not spinning out in the mental story telling of the negativity, I have allowed myself those days of staring out the window.  I believe this made all the difference.  I finally believe I have a clear vision to move forward.  One that is exciting and taps into all those areas I feel competent in and desire to share with the world.  Just to share the process on how these arrived, I will map out my evolution here.

The Evolution.

My first start at reorienting had two primary areas of focus. These two areas were chosen by first and foremost eliminating what was not working.  I had to realize my serious limitations.  The First Apprentice program, as powerful and meaningful I felt it was, had to go.  I did not have the skill set to fulfill this vision, and my ability to connect with the larger community was lackluster to say the least.  Secondly, and probably most importantly, I had to relinquish all attempts to work with the addicts in the community.  This had drained me both physically, financially and spiritually.  I gave and gave and gave and in return was slandered throughout the recovery community.  This did great harm to the project and my own reputation.  This had to be cut off completely.  Luckily, the CoDA community is separate and small, so I will be able to partiipate in this amazing 12 step community.  This won't be a part of the project, but might touch back in at somepoint.

Getting to the primary mission, the Youth Programming did continue to develop over the four years of the project.  We held our Art Garage April to October every year.  We developed the Ambassador's of Kindness program, publishing two books and working to operationalize our level one, so that it could be enacted effectively with youth anywhere.  We published several childrens math books, and held Conceptual Math Wizards Level 1 courses.  These were all successes, and furthermore, it was felt that the drama of working with the addict population had taken away the focus that should have been on the youth all along.  The Community House was an extension of the Art Garage.  It was meant to extend that programming, not diminish it.

Now looking at what other new areas were successful. It was clear that some powerful connections were made with women who were also community organizers.  We helped several people start new endeavors, Ann Oesterle, started her own Yoga Studeo, Anna Prana.  We didn't do much, but helped to flame the fire, and offered her the chance to practice her craft at our own studeo at the Community House.  Still we are so proud of her accomplishments, just amazing.  We helped Ryan and Phil with their business, getting it on Google and setting pu their website.  The tragedy here is that they both succombed to their addictions, and Ryan passed away from an overdose last year.  So tragic, as his talent was undeniable and his business had found some incredible success.  More lasting and meaningful connections have been made.  Ethel Pates, founder of Your Lives Matter Outreach Ministry has become a collaborator in the project, and also the Community House has been able to support her work, by assisting with her website.  Another collaborator, Yolanda Wallace, has been a point of hope.  Her own ability to organize and create powerful event for her non-profit, A Mother's War On Violence. https://www.motherswaronviolence.org/, has been an inspiration.

For this reason, I felt collaboration was a necessary piece to keep.

So this was the first iteration:

Youth Programming
and
Collaboration

The more I thought about who I might collaborate with, and how I might support entrepreneurialism, I just kind of froze.  I reached out to a couple places, but they were all dead ends.  Will this be another drain of my energy.  One thing I came to understand about my goal of creating loving community is that I do not have control over what others do.  I cannot dictate their action, or determine their engagement.  This means that to a certain extent, loving community is not something I can actually create.  God can create this.  It happens under certain circumstances.  I can attempt to create these circumstances, but so far I have not been successful in creating loving community. 

So what can I create, what do I have control over.  I can create websites, and books, and art, and I can create opportunities to engage in art and publish your own work, and host events.

If I do these things, community may develop, or it may not, but I am still doing my part.

Something about the collaboration piece just felt too hard.  I struggle with people stuff, so it is ironic that I would create a Community House.  It is a deep longing I have for something that I have lacked and that doesn't come naturally to me.

OK, second iteration, Youth Programming Only.

This was where I was about 3 weeks ago.  Youth programming only.  I felt I could do this.  I focused on first the Math and AOK programs, but realized the baby chicks were an amazing success, and of course the Art Garage.  So it expanded.  I could continue the Art Garage in my own garage, and offer the other programming at other sites.  These are so prevalent all over Peoria and there was no reason I had to limit my offerings to Peoria only.  

So that was decided.

But something was nagging at my heart.  I felt like I was loosing what I loved so much.  That is to encourage adults to share their gifts as well.  I didn't want to only work with kids, although I love it, kids are just starting to discover themselves.  I wanted to find creative adults who wanted to share their gifts and were looking for creative community to foster their dreams.

That was it.  I realized my second purpose.  It wasn't about entrepreneurs, it was about creative people.  It was about supporting Creators!  Entrepreneurs are creators, but by turning the focus onto the creative aspect of it, it allows all of my passion to be present in the vision.  

So here we are now.

Youth Programming
and 
Creators Programming.

I still need to discover the names, but that feel like what the new program wants to become.

​I feel myself being lifted out of the morass and back into the stream of life.  Praise God and may I serve his mission with this vision.