Artbook: Voices of Freedom

Does Bravery Project sell the art work?
Do you make and sell prints?
Can I get a copy of this piece?
You should make an art book!

These are the kinds of responses we get from visitors to our art exhibits and it's an encouraging aspect of our work.  Not only do the stories touch people's lives, but the art inspires people and encourages them to take a little piece of Bravery Project home.

We have launched the art book fundraiser online just for this purpose.  Our budget does not provide for the publishing expense and physical books are very expensive to publish these days!  For this reason, we are giving you the best options by offering "Bravery Project: Voices of Freedom" as an e-book and a printed book in both English and Spanish.


We ask for your support in helping us raise the funds needed to make this happen.  In turn, the funds we make from the book sales will go towards giving another survivor a voice to keep our work going. For every painting created there is another voice waiting to be heard. Through supporting this art book project, you will help bring the message of Bravery to the world.

Mother's Red Dress

I was recently contacted by independent filmmaker, John Paul Rice, who is also President of No Restrictions Entertainment. With a super busy schedule and heart and passion the size of Texas, Mr. Rice has chosen to use his professional talents to pursue quality movies with a social issue message.

Mr. Rice and writer/director, Edgar Michael Bravo are working on feature film, Mother's Red Dress. They describe it as, "A tragic love story, the film deals with the effects of domestic violence, abuse and mental illness. The message of the film is that the denial of trauma causes mental dysfunction. We created a film based on the hope that the main character would possibly begin his road to recovery once he faced the truth of his past.

The story is inspired by people we know and from our own personal experiences."

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Mother's Red Dress is in post production phase and requires community support to complete the process of visual effects, colorizing, sound, and other details needed for release to the public. This is your chance to do a small thing to make a big impact:

• Share the trailor with others.
• Make a donation. For every $3.00 donated in support of finishing the film, you can download the entire film before it's released to the public.
• See the movie.
• Talk to your friends and family.

I get emails from our blogs, asking how one can help reduce domestic violence. This is a prime example. Mr. Rice, Mr. Bravo and Bravery Project have the same vision to increase public awareness about abuse so that we are all empowered to create social change.  Furthermore, once the film is released to the public, they will donate portions of the proceeds to domestic violence organizations.  For less than the cost of a Vente Latte coffee, your $3 donation will allow this awareness to reach millons of people and support charities doing good work. Your $3 donation could literally save lives. 

Support Mother's Red Dress
More about John Paul Rice
More about Edgar Michael Bravo
No Restrictions Entertainment
Mother's Red Dress on Facebook

Victim's Rights Week

Victim's Rights Week is over and as before, it was a tremendous honor to participate in events with our artwork.  Every year, Arizona State University provides a wonderful forum for guest speakers and community participants to come and learn more about legislative efforts, lessons from real stories, and to meet some movers and shakers who are working hard to promote the rights of victims.  Interesting that we have this movement in the first place until you take a look at the legal system.  Touted as one of the best in the world because a defendent is "innocent until proven guilty," the due process makes for many rights for perpetrators in an effort to prevent real innocents from prosecution.  The victims who suffer the consequences of a crime are left to their own devices.  Don't believe me however, talk to someone who has lost a loved one from a homicide or trying to put a life back together after identity theft has left them bankrupt.  Not easy. 

Remembering the victims from the Tucson Shooting.

Things are changing thanks to groups like the FBI Victim Assistance, Victim Services with the Attorney General's Office, Victim Advocates with the Police Department, and organizations like Against Abuse and countless other groups.  Many of these folks were victims themselves and have chosen to help others because no one will do it for us if we don't come together as a community.  Another lesson?  Don't think a crime can't happen because, heaven forbid, you may find yourself in the middle of picking the pieces of your life.  At least you know there are understanding people out there for you to lean on and THAT is something that no criminal can take away.

Crime Victim's Rights by State

Girl Scouts Are Much More Than Cookies

Once a year, it happens. Checking the calendar daily and salivating during many day dreams of biting into a favorite Girl Scout Cookie.  I'm definitely guilty of it.  Thin Mints and Do Si Dos are the cryptonite my diet. 

Aside from scrumptious treats, The Girl Scouts turn out to be much more than I had anticipated.  An invitation to speak and show art at the Girl Scout Arizona Cactus-Pine event for Women's History Month educates me on this amazing nonprofit.   Most people know about the Girl Scouts, but may not realize that Arizona Cactus-Pine serves roughly 2/3rds of Maricopa County or 24,568 girls.  They also have programs for underpriveledged girls and those living in unique circumstances. 

Just Us Social Programs offer special programs for girls who need a nurturing environment with positive role models and to learn the skills of success.  For instance, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars provides for girls with incarcerated mothers. Scouting in Detention Centers provides girls, living in detention facilities, with mentoring within the facility and a program after leaving the facility.  Girl Scouts Baby Camp provide pregnant and parenting teenage mothers with a weekend to learn valuable resources and skills to help them through the rigors of parenthood.  GS GEMS: Girl Scouts- Girls Education Empowering and Mentoring with Support provides girls who have been human trafficked with the much needed support to break the silence and increase awareness about this preventable issue.

I am honored to be sharing Bravery Project artwork and speaking at a Leadership Salon to celebrate Women's History Month at the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine event on Wed, March 16th.  This is free and open to the public.  I hope to see you there to support this wonderful organization.

RSVP to our event with Girl Scouts

Don't compete...Collaborate

The economy is very tough on all of us, especially nonprofit organizations.  I distinctly remember when trying to give away free sponsored tickets to another nonprofit to get at-risk kids at one of our awareness events, they refused to tell anyone because our event was too close to thier fundraiser event.  In a tough economy, the mission to serve gets replaced with the mission to receive. 

Upset at the time, I don't hold it against them, because panic mode is completely understandable when trying to stay alive during a recession.  However, we have found that collaboration with other organizations can fill these expense niches and build strong relationships that focus on a common cause, which is why we passionate community members got involved in tough social causes in the first place.

For example, Bravery Project has been so blessed to receive the generosity of office space from a nonprofit agency, Jewish Family and Children Services.  We are placed next to a program that focuses on the same goal of reducing abuse in the community and are finding even more ways to collaborate.  This is the future of making a difference in the community...working together.  It produces resources far richer than money.