Now What? or How Do We Get Folks Here?
The many pieces are finally falling together.
It will be a touching and truly transformative event.
Now the issue becomes: how do we get folks here? How do we let people know about this wonderful gift that is being held right here in the heart of the city on Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2011, and get them to come and see it for themselves?
It is said that Los Angeles is one of the few places in the world where there are at least three life-changing events nearly every weekend.
We laugh - but it’s true.
So, how are we going to get people here?
Our religious leaders have rolled up their sleeves and been intensely involved in letting their followers know about “Finding Hope in the Holy”. They are talking to their congregations and organizations and various groups – young and old. The poster is up in campus papers and weekly newsletters. Some participants are thinking big time and pan to bring families and friends to St. John’s Cathedral in buses. Great idea!
And we are actually talking face-to-face (the old fashioned way) with high tech youngsters who are so wired they run on electricity instead of food. Tweeting and twittering and facebook-“friend”ing are just a few of their repertoire of social media group-gathering techniques and they are using every one of them.
Jennifer Jessum made the remarkable video you have seen of an amazing selection of children of many faith traditions that offers a taste of what The Guibord Center – Religion Inside Out seeks to accomplish with “Finding Hope in the Holy”. We have sent the film out in e-mails and facebook and everywhere we can think of.
And then this Wednesday the local News on FOX 11 TEAM showed up…
We all complain that the media rarely covers good news - the stories that warm our hearts and touch our souls and help us be the best of ourselves.
Well, the local News on Fox 11 Team, did just that!
Tricia Takasugi and her cameraman, Steve, had asked Dr. Guibord to gather some representatives of The Planning Committee so they could see them in action and then interview them individually about “Finding Hope in the Holy” as well as their own personal experiences post-9/11.
It’s summer.
August.
Dr. Guibord was able to reach: Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels of Temple Beth Shir Shalom; Rajshree Patel, Executive Director of The Art of Living Foundation; Ravinder Singh Khalsa of Khalsa Peace Corps; and Saadia Khan of The Muslim Public Affairs Council.
They gathered at a table, as planned, to talk. Steve placed a live mike in the middle and the conversation began…
What I love to observe is not so much about how people talk
but more about how they listen…
and they all listened,
deeply and well,
taking the time to think about what was said.
There were useful pauses.
Nods.
Probing responses.
Flashes of connection.
The conversation part of the filming was scheduled to run for a limited time but time passed unnoticed with both reporter and cameraman caught up in the planning and discussions along with everyone else. Even when someone pointed out the time, people were reluctant to stop.
Then Trisha Takasugi initiated the individual interviews - which were real exchanges. Her questions had substance, authenticity. She really wanted to know - not just for her listeners – but for herself. The rest of the group at a discreet distance leaned in to listen. Three hours flew by. 
Dr. Guibord invited them to use the video of the children which they taped right off a computer screen. Then, suddenly, these news professional were on the run. Their job next became how to cut nearly three hours of film into a powerful piece just 90 seconds long and get it on the News on Fox 11 - 10 o’clock news just hours away.
Those of you who saw it have to be impressed.
So come on September 11, 2011, at 2:00 PM to St. John’s Cathedral in downtown - on the corner of Figueroa and Adams - and remember to bring your friends!
