Hi, this is Michael Skye with an open invitation for you.  Come join  Robyn Emerson and I for an evening of jazz and inspiring conversation, right here in Austin, Texas! 

Robyn and I are going to Kenya next month to work with kids there and have them see their greatness.  Here’s Robyn:

Hello! Hola!, Jambo!, Nanga def!

Join us for an inspiring evening of young people from the Austin area showcasing their development as Global Citizens. Each week at least 150 young people are growing aware of the world in which we live! A Glimmer of Hope Foundation has given their support, won’t you join them.

Sincerely,

Robyn T. Emerson
A Showcase of Hope – Jazz on the Patio

When was the last time you were in the presence of a young person you felt that the world’s issues where in good hands to be handled – poverty, education for all, gender equality, health – infant mortality, maternal and diseases, environment, and partnership? I have this honor daily and I invite you to experience it as well. We need your help to make these forums available at more sites and build our Hazel’s fund – a financial assistance fund for any young person wishing to join on an exploration. Come for an evening of inspiration!

Nuevo Leon Restaurant 
1501 E.6th St.
Austin, Texas

May 10, 2006
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
 
 This notion of Global Citizenship is not new. Martin Luther King was a Global Citizen, Ghandi was and elson Mandela is too. Through weekly forums young people in the Austin area are growing to -be aware of wider world and has a sense of own role -respect and values diversity -understand how the world works economically, politically, socially, culturally and environmentally – be outraged by social injustice – participate in and contributes to the community at a range of levels from local to global -be willing to act to make world more sustainable -take responsibility for actions.

That’s not enough for us. We create opportunities for young people to express their global citizenship on Explorations around the world – Guatemala, Senegal and Kenya. Our second year of explorations proofs to a perfect combination of leadership development, cultural experiencing and world issue exploration and addressing. Summer ‘06 Explorations will allow for campus improvement and residing at a children’s home along with leading a youth peer leadership workshop in Kenya, community development – educational services improvement and village facilities improvement in Senegal and implementation of proven successful youth empowerment program in indigenious Maya community in Guatemala. Young people in the Austin area are eager to meet peers around the world to lend a hand to world issues. Those that express an interest we want finances to not be the barrier to do so. Please help us build our financial assistance fund
 

Thursday, on my journey back from North Carolina and the recording studio, where I recorded Visionary Mind, I changed planes in Chicago… or at least I was supposed to!  You see, I had 2 hours in between flights, so I went to the gate where the next plane would take me to Austin, and I closed my eyes…

“I’ll just nap until they call the Austin flight on the loudspearkers,” I thought.  Well, they never called for Austin.  Apparently I was at the wrong gate.  Anyway, I missed my flight, and wouldn’t likely catch one until the next day (this was 1pm Thursday).  So, I called a local guy who was a Vision Force Boot Camp graduate, and he came to pick me up.

You should see his place… A suite on the 14th floor of a very nice apartment complex in the tourist area of Chicago.  When he opened his door that evening, all I could see was the lights of Chicago’s most beautiful buildings and their reflection on the lake.  Amazing.  Well, we relaxed, while watching some video footage he had recently taped… here’s where it gets good.

Just over 2 years ago, Emced attended a Vision Force Boot Camp, then called the Wealth Warrior Boot Camp.  Inside that event, he saw a vision that deeply called to him, and then set about to make it a reality.  His vision was to create a documentary that would show Hip Hop’s power to change the world for the better, and the science behind powerfully speaking your vision via the spoken word, poetry and rap.  His name is Emced Hammas and his company is 2020 MultiMedia.

Well, I saw live footage of passionate interviews with KRS1, Busy Bee and DMC that will be appearing on the documentary, and I’ve gotta say… Emced is onto something.  These artists were attesting to the power of framing and speaking your reality or vision, and thus giving it life in reality. 

Emced wants to include footage of me speaking at the Hip Hop National Political Convention, or somewhere else in public, for the documentary… can’t wait!

As Emced was dropping me off at the airport the next day, he committed to attending the next Vision Force Boot Camp on May 17th and binging some of the key people on his crew.  This boot camp really has some amazing people attending.  I’m excited to be once again in the presence of a room of people who know themselves as visionaries, and are called forth into heroic action by the power of their own vision. 

(You don’t have to be a visionary to attend.  You simply must be ready to face the compromises in your life that keep you from seeing the kind of vision that calls to you deeply… remove the compromises by taking a stand, and a powerful vision emerges.)

Btw, my partner in the June journey to Africa, Robyn Emerson, CEO of Cultural and Educational Opportunities for Teens, will be in attendance at the next boot camp as well.  (If you’re thinking about joining us, call Michele at 1-877-844-6667… it’s only 2.5 weeks away!)

-Michael

I just got back from a planning session for our trip to Africa in June.  Boy, am I excited!  There were several native Kenyans there, who told us stories about life in Kenya.  You should have seen their eyes light up as they talked about the unique landscapes, wildlife, etc., and as they talked about the culture, the people and life in Kenya.

For years, I’ve had subcribers from Africa writing me, asking when we’re coming to Africa.  Well, my African friends, wait no longer!  We’re coming to visit you! 

Before we go to teach for a week at a school in Ngong, we’ll be in Nairobe, and I’ll be free to meet with you on the evenings of June 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th.  What I’d like is for you to propose meeting places, dates and times here to this blog, so we can coordinate our schedules.  We could have some discussions about the Power To Stand course, or whatever you’d like–FREE of course.  So tell me what you’d like to talk about, when and where.

 If you’re someone who’d like to join us for the whole trip, or if you know a child who’d like to experience this once in a lifetime adventure, contact us ASAP.  We’re going on safari, speaking to local leaders, traveling the countryside and more.  This truly will be the adventure of a lifetime.  The week we’ll spend at the school/orphanage will be an opportunity for you to leave a lasting impact on children–you could be the one to see their greatness, and impact their future forever.  The cost for a child or adult to attend the full 3 week journey is $4,500 and the price goes up the longer you wait.  This fee paid to CEO Teens (a non-profit) covers your airfare and basic costs.  If you want more details, reply to this blog or email us.

For those of you who are truly adventurous, you can join me on a marathon through the wildlife preserve!  Imagine, being able to tell your grandchildren you ran alongside zebras and giraffes!

-Michael