Raffi Renaissance Update - December 2006

The Raffi Renaissance campaign began in June 2006 with anthology & CD launches in Pittsburgh's Point Park University with co-editor Sharna Olfman and a number of book contributors, and at the University of Victoria with former Dean of Education Budd Hall and the Kids Power Chorus. At Government House in Victoria, BC's Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, held a luncheon in honour of Child Honouring, attended by a number of educators, community leaders and decision makers. The anthology is in its 2nd printing with sales at 2500, and cd sales have reached 2000 (3rd pressing just done). Many thanks to Vancouver's Dempsey distributors.

TOUR: After a summer swing of 4 Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Saltspring &Pender), Raffi's fall presentations spanned numerous settings including Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, St. John, Langley and Port Coquitlam (BC), Wolfville, Halifax, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary, and at Universities such as UBC, Victoria (U of T), Mount St Vincent, Acadia, and Dalhousie. Book &cd signings made for brisk sales.

MEDIA BUZZ: CBC News Sunday (national TV), the Daily Show, CBC radio (Calgary, Halifax), Boston Globe, St. John Telegraph-Journal, Calgary Herald, USA Today.

WORD & SONG: Raffi spoke, sang and danced the Child Honouring paradigm before enthusiastic audiences, moving people to tears (and to their feet). Anthology contributors enriched the message from coast to coast—in Halifax: Ron Colman; in Pittsburgh: Susan Linn, Joan Almon, Sandra Steingraber, Joel Bakan, and Sharna Olfman; in Vancouver, Joel Bakan, with Banyen Books owner Kolin Lymworth as MC; and in Toronto: Mary Gordon and Stuart Shanker, with Advisory Council member Charles Pascal as MC. In Calgary, Raffi shared the stage with writer &peace activist Carolyn Pogue, the Calgary Boys Choir, and the Very Reverend Bill Phipps.

HONOURS: Raffi was given an award from the Ottawa organization Every Child Is Sacred, and he received the Fred Rogers Integrity award from the Boston based Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood.

MEMORABLE: Raffi's appearance highlights included a presentation at the World Peace Forum in Vancouver that inspired even long-time peace activists.

Dalai Lama Dialogues in Vancouver: Raffi attended all public sessions, met with organizers and presenters, and had a personal moment with His Holiness.
Vancouver book/cd launch: a six-month old baby cooed as if in response to Raffi's words, a moment that Raffi took time to acknowledge and celebrate.
Atlanta: 3000 early childhood educators—at the closing session of the NAEYC national conference—rocked the Omni Hotel grand ballroom to Raffi's new songs, with dozens joining him on stage for the new cd title track "Resisto Dancing".
Beluga Grads were in attendance everywhere Raffi went; they thanked Raffi for inspiring them to a renewed commitment to turning this world around.
At the Steve Nash Foundation event this summer (guest artist Sarah MacLaughlan) Raffi was called to the stage to say a few words.
After the Victoria University (U of T) event, a 29 year-old paraplegic in attendance, unable to speak or write, offered (with his caregiver's help) this message for Raffi: "very special work".

FEEDBACK: visit raffinews.com and click on Raffi/Letters and Beluga Grads/Feedback for what people are saying about Raffi's recent presentations. Fabulous feedback!

PEOPLE: Raffi's recent substantive meetings with influentials include Peter Senge (MIT); Linda Booth-Sweeney (Society of Organizational Learning); Barbara Dempsey (book/cd distributor Dempsey); Chapters/Indigo CEO Heather Reisman; designer Bruce Mau; brain researcher Ritchie Davidson; UBC economist John Helliwell, the Honourable Roy Romanow, biologist Bruce Lipton, facilitator/educator Charles Holmes, UBC faculty of education associate professor Kim Schonert-Reichl, motivational speaker/author Dawna Markova, the Very Reverend Bill Phipps, author/peace actiivist Carolyn Pogue, and Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan.

MENTIONS: Canada's Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and best-selling author David Korten (The Great Turning) have taken Raffi's song Turn This World Around for their theme song/anthem. Exchange, United Chruch ‘leaders' magazine (fall 2006) posts a child-honouring workshop for church groups. Two upcoming books—Mark Anielski's The Economics of Happiness and Riane Eisler's The Real Wealth of Nations — reference Child Honouring.

ACTIONS: We're always asked "what can I do?" by those moved to join the compassion revolution. Much to do, infinite ways to help.

FIRST, use the phrase Child Honouring wherever possible: in conversation, essays, letters to the editor, emails to elected officials & to businesses. Spread the meme!
SECOND, on your NGO or personal website, show a link to raffinews.com and/or post the Covenant & Principles (downloadable pdf from raffinews) in a visible place.
THIRD, conscious consuming: where possible, purchase organic foods & fibres, green cleaning products, and chlorine free recycled paper for your printing needs. Think of the cost difference as a triple-bottom-line investment in a child-friendly world.
FOURTH, with your Child Honouring inner lens: visualize the enormous benefits to all of society in respecting the personhood of every girl & boy right from the start. Be part of the compassionate wave that ends corporal punishment once and for all. Embrace the Golden Rule, and live by this nonviolent mantra: FIRST, DO NO HARM.
FIFTH, gifts that give in many ways: the Child Honouring anthology (printed chlorine free) and Resisto Dancing cd (chlorine free digipack) make Earth-friendly gifts.

COMING in 2007: One goal is for the anthology & cd to become best sellers. Anthology: electronic version, softcover, Brazilian publication in Portuguese; reviews in Journal of Moral Education (UK), Teacher &Parent magazine (US) New dvds: 15 min RR promotional dvd; 12 min dvd: Dalai Lama &Raffi conversation on Ch Hon (incl. Covenant video) New book on Cov & Principles; Raffi presentations in Canada, US, and abroad : check ‘Appearances' in website; Enhanced website: audio &video clips and many new features.

Many thanks to our Advisory Council members and all those who played a role in the Raffi Renaissance success to date. Pssst! Child Honouring: pass it on...

BEST WISHES for HAPPY HOLIDAYS from all of us at Troubadour !!!