Hi Guys
Below is something I'm excited about. Our plans and goals for 2007. We've been asked to create something "official", so this is that. Feel free to share it with friends, as we hope it provides answers for anyone wondering who we are, what we do, where we came from and where we're going.
When this year began, I was a sales rep for Hurley. I lost my friend Zeke to suicide and I met the inspiration for our title on a trip to California in early January. I met Renee in late February. Jon Foreman was the first to put on a TWLOHA t-shirt, in March at a Switchfoot show in South Florida. I heard from Thrice's Dustin Kensrue a few weeks later. Deon and Hayley were next. Somewhere between then and now, we met you.
This began in hopes of seeing one life saved. She sleeps in sobriety tonight, her dreams realized, wishes true and still coming. Thank you beyond words for making this so much more, for helping us speak to thousands, for helping us build a new bridge to rescue. Thank you for joining us as we reach to turn the lights on in the darkest rooms of our culture.
Thank you beyond words for 2006. Thank you for the best year of my life. I'm pretty sure that Renee would say the same. And we're just getting started : )
Happy New Year.
jamie
To Write Love on Her Arms...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
2007.
One year ago, "To Write Love on Her Arms" did not exist. It wasn't even an idea. Ten months ago, I met a girl named Renee and I learned her story. It was one of pain and addiction, depression and regret, but also one of hope. I began to share her story. I printed a few dozen black t-shirts in hopes of helping to pay for her treatment expenses. I had no idea that it would offer hope to thousands, or that it would become a non-profit movement.
But it has and I am so thankful, and we are now aiming to present hope creatively to thousands more, to spark honest conversations everywhere, and to raise money to directly meet the financial needs of young people seeking treatment and recovery from depression, self-injury and addiction.
It is estimated that 19 million people struggle with depression. That is in America alone, and it's estimated that 2/3 never get help. Untreated depression is the ..1 cause of suicide and suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people. Depression is treatable. These issues have stayed silent too long; in our society, in our schools, in our churches.
It's time for an honest conversation. People need to know that they're not alone if they struggle with these issues, or if they love someone who does. We believe that hope and help are for all people. We believe that rescue is possible.
These are our goals and plans for 2007. It is a journey and we would love for you to come along. We need your help.
Thank you and Happy New Year,
Jamie Tworkowski
TWLOHA Founder and Director
2007 TWLOHA GOALS
$100K FUND:
We believe in hope. We believe it is the first step to recovery. We want every single thing we do to be about hope. Every element of the site. Every night of "Stop the Bleeding". Every email we send. For me personally, I want people to find hope every time I speak and with every blog I write.
Beyond hope, we want to help by meeting individual needs through financial contributions. TWLOHA grew out of a few of us trying to pay for Renee's treatment.
Our goal for 2007 is to contribute $100k to the treatment, recovery and support of young people facing depression, addiction and self-injury.
What can you do?
Donate online via www.twloha.com/form.php
or by mail to TWLOHA, PO Box 33268, Indialantic, FL 32903
STOP THE BLEEDING TOUR:
"Stop the Bleeding" is TWLOHA's attempt to bring the movement to life in a live setting. The goal each night is to communicate hope and raise awareness thru music, art and spoken word. We partner with a local organization and/or counselor(s) in each city, inviting them to have a presence at the event and inviting a representative of theirs to join us on stage for a time of Q&A. We also invite a local artist (usually a painter) to create on stage, to capture the themes of the evening thru art.
In 2006, TWLOHA held eight "Stop the Bleeding" events in non-church settings. We would also like to bring STB events to Australia and New Zealand, where suicide outnumbers murder. We've received many emails from these places, and we're also excited about recent contacts and possibilities in the UK, Europe and Japan.
What can you do?
Book a "Stop the Bleeding" event. Contact booking@twloha.com
Donate via www.twloha.com/form.php
Donate a van.
VOLUNTEERS / STREET TEAM:
We have had hundreds of people say "I want to help" and in 2006, we didn't have much to offer them beyond flyer cards (to help promote TWLOHA – these are now available in our online store). We have been in the process of organizing a street team (though we'll probably give it a cooler name) and this will launch in January 2007, led by David Ranzino and Jake Dockter. David and Jake will be managing the street team, working to build, implement and organize a system and network that allows us to communicate with and provide tools for the many folks who want to get involved.
We're already getting started. Trisha Ivy has led two Volunteer meetings in New York City and Jake Dockter recently led TWLOHA's first meeting for folks interested in getting involved in and around the wonderful city of Portland, Oregon. The groups have included everyone from high school and college students to counselors and professionals.
January marks meeting ..2 for Portland as well as the start of TWLOHA_Seattle. For spring 2007 we will focus on Florida, Alabama, California, Texas, Michigan and Illinois and we will connect the U.S. dots from there. We're also eager to connect and get started with our visit to Australia, and possibly New Zealand, in March/April and we're excited about recent conversations with new friends in Canada, the UK, Europe and Japan.
What can you do?
West Coast USA: Email jake@twloha.com
East Coast USA: Email david@twloha.com
NYC Area: Email trisha@twloha.com
International: Email international@twloha.com
INDIA – JANUARY 12-21, 2007
Trisha, Emily and Jamie are part of a team of 32 traveling to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India on January 12, 2007. They were invited by Stephen Christian of the band Anberlin, to join him and friends in working with the TEN organization, which fights human trafficking and offers support to it's victims in India. Part of TEN's work is a project called "Made by Survivors", which helps provide an income and transition for those rescued from slavery. www.madebysurvivors.com
This trip to India includes members of six bands, including Anberlin, Underoath and Showbread, as well as film makers and photographers. While there, each band, as well as TWLOHA and XXXchurch.com, will be working with TEN to design a product that will be made by people rescued from slavery in India. These products will then be discussed and sold on various tours and online stores, with all profits going to support TEN's efforts of justice, rescue and recovery in India. We are honored to be included and to represent TWLOHA in India.
AUSTRALIA - March 1-21.
We have heard from many people in Australia. Jamie and Trisha will be spending three weeks there in March/April 2007, connecting with key people in laying the foundation for TWLOHA Australia. In addition to it's beauty, we're learning that Australia is also a place of great pain. The majority of the trip will be meetings and learning what we can do to make TWLOHA part of the solution. Beyond that, Jamie will be speaking and we would love to do a night or two of "Stop the Bleeding".
What can you do?
Tell us where we need to go, and who we need to meet.
Contact australia@twloha.com
Book an event or speaking date. Contact booking@twloha.com
Make a donation to help cover the cost of the trip via
www.twloha.com/form.php
SUMMER FESTIVALS:
Cornerstone Florida and Illinois were defining moments for TWLOHA in 2006. They were exciting turning points for us and we want to have an even bigger presence at these events in 2007. We're in the process of deciding where we will go and what our involvement will be at each event this summer. We're coming to these guys with creative ideas, interested in hosting stages, "Stop the Bleeding" sets, speaking between bands, etc.
2007 Vans Warped Tour:
Over the last twelve years, the Vans Warped Tour has grown to be the nation's largest summer music tour, with over one million young people attending. Each summer, the Warped Tour invites several non-profit organizations to have a presence on the tour. They have expressed interest in TWLOHA and we are thrilled at the possibility of being involved. We believe that music is important and that the Warped Tour would be an opportunity to bring a message of hope to hundreds of thousands of young people.
What can you do?
Volunteer. Contact david@twloha.com
Donate via www.twloha.com/form.php
Donate a van.
TWLOHA SPEAKING:
In 2006, Jamie brought the message and story of TWLOHA to various churches including:
Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI
Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, IL
Origins Church in New York City
Discovery Church in Orlando, FL
Jamie also shared and led Q&A at Baylor University in Waco, TX and the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. He also enjoyed the unique opportunity of speaking at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, IL.
In 2006, Jamie will continue to speak at churches, music festivals and schools, as well as "Stop the Bleeding" and other non-church events. He is excited to visit the western U.S. as well as Australia in early 07, and Europe sometime soon after. He wants to go everywhere.
TWLOHA began with Renee's story. Renee began to speak publicly in late 2006, sharing at "Stop the Bleeding" as well as to schools on the east coast. She is a gifted communicator with a powerful story. She is excited to travel and speak more in 2007, sharing as her story continues.
What can you do?
Book Jamie or Renee to speak to your group or event.
Email: booking@twloha.com
STAFF ADDITIONS:
Lauren Ranzino is coming on as our full-time Director of Counseling, effective January 1.
In my opinion, this is the single-most important move we've made. Lauren will focus on everything relative to counseling, from the intense individual messages that come our way via MySpace and email, to building relationships and partnerships with other organizations (such as Mercy Ministries and Teen Challenge). We want to serve as a bridge for kids who need help. Lauren is a huge piece to this process. lauren@twloha.com
Trisha Ivy is also coming on full-time effective January 1. She will be helping across the board, doing everything from managing our MySpace, to partnering with bands and other organizations, to leading TWLOHA's efforts and volunteers in New York City. She will also be traveling with Renee in 2007. trisha@twloha.com
COUNSELING CENTER / HQ:
We have recently been daydreaming about a home base in Florida. We currently work with two full-time licensed mental health/addictions therapists. They are based in Orlando and have been volunteering with TWLOHA for the last several months. They are interested in going into private practice. Our idea is a counseling center that would also serve as TWLOHA Headquarters and a small music venue. Our hometown (Melbourne, FL) does not have a music venue for the local independent scene and we would love to meet that need as a way to create a safe place where greater needs can also be met.
This center would be a living, breathing picture of TWLOHA, home base to the big- picture operation, but also an example of us meeting needs in our own community. This would also allow us to invite interns to work with us.
What can you do?
Donate via www.twloha.com/form.php
Interested in learning more about HQ, or interning with TWLOHA?
Contact david@twloha.com
To Write Love on Her Arms
PO Box 33268
Indialantic, FL 32903
www.twloha.com
www.myspace.com/towriteloveonherarms
info@twloha.com
To Write Love on Her Arms is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates under the umbrella of Fireproof Ministries. Donations to TWLOHA are tax-deductible and receipts will be sent in February.