Misstropolis | Spirit

Music Against Myeloma

2009-06-30T16:22:20-05:00

Not long ago, patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma faced a lonely battle against the disease. Despite growing awareness of other forms of cancer, few knew of myeloma and little was being done to raise awareness and funds toward a cure. Slava Rubin and Matt Ostrower, the founders of Music Against Myeloma (MAM), are part of an influential movement to change that here and abroad. Abigail Jones speaks to the founders in New York City where MAM recently held its annual fundraiser - a deliberately non-black tie party, focused on music and fighting cancer one song at a time.This spring, nearly 150 young professionals dressed in skinny jeans and casual work attire, some tipsy, all of them giddy, gathered at BLVD, a bar in SoHo in New York City. On stage, R&B and jazz sensation Danielia Cotton belted out contagious tunes while the crowd clamored for cupcakes from Sugar Sweet Sunshine (an NYC obsession), cheeses from Murray’s Cheese (another local obsession), and “Cancer Sucks” socks.

Revolutionary Philanthropy

2009-06-03T17:45:32-05:00

Kathy LeMay thought the only way she could make an impact was by donating lots of money to the causes she cared about. But her work as a trusted advisor in the fundraising world has shown her that the most powerful form of philanthropy is available to each and every one of us.My mother spent her life teaching me about making a difference. We went without when I was young—there were times spent in food banks, times we used food stamps. Still, my mother would say, “There is always someone who is worse off. Our job is to help.”

My Day with the Dalai Lama

2009-05-12T01:47:49-05:00

Omgal Rebecca Pacheco reflects on her life-affirming day in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With 15,000 others in the temporarily sacred Gillette Stadium, the author experienced live the compassionate wisdom that had moved her through teachers and readings since she was a college student. A calm mind and when appropriate, a Patriots hat, are what guide him she found, on the path to peace and happiness. Can we learn to follow?Following the Dalai Lama’s visit to Boston this weekend, the media’s coverage of the event, a two-part lecture held at Gillette Stadium, was largely relegated to posts regarding the above photo, wherein His Holiness donned a New England Patriots hat during the afternoon session. I can’t say that I blame them; it was pretty fantastic. The hat, of course, was a gift from Patriots team owner Robert Kraft, who happened to be sitting with his wife Myra, just a few feet away from me, so I snapped a shot of him too.

How Do You Do It? Heroic Words from Mom Entrepreneurs

2009-05-05T17:22:57-05:00

For us at Misstropolis the approach of Mother’s Day is not a time of panic over what flowers to send or brunch reservations to make. Instead we like to reflect on how absolutely kick ass mothers are every day of every year. Moms who are entrepreneurial highlight the death-defying high wire act that all mother’s perform daily and give us an opportunity for a proud collective cheer. Here, four women reflect on the courage, balance, love and self-knowledge that comes from being business owners - but always mothers first. And surprise! Owning a business requires a lot of the same qualities as being a mom. For us at Misstropolis the approach of Mother’s Day is not a time of panic over what flowers to send or brunch reservations to make. Instead we like to reflect on how absolutely kick ass mothers are every day of every year. Moms who are entrepreneurial highlight the death-defying high wire act that all mother’s perform daily and give us an opportunity for a proud collective cheer. Here, four women reflect on the courage, balance, love and self-knowledge that comes from being business owners - but always mothers first.

Couture for Cancer: Carmen Marc Valvo for Ovations for a Cure

2009-04-29T16:33:01-05:00

This Saturday, take part in a most extraordinary event at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. Join designer Carmen Marc Valvo and local celebrities to support Ovations for a Cure, one of the only organizations in the country dedicated exclusively to finding a cure for ovarian cancer. Fashion and Philanthropy combine for an afternoon you won’t forget. Grab a friend and celebrate Couture for a Cure.More than 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and 15,000 ultimately succumb to the disease. shockingly, this 15% survival rate has not changed in over 30 years. Ovations for the Cure is one of the few organizations in the country dedicated exclusively to ovarian cancer. Ovations fights to proliferate information about ovarian cancer risk factors and warning signs, and aggressively supports research and treatment initiatives. In its three-year existence as an organization, Ovations has donated over $1.25 million to ovarian cancer research across the country.

Seek With an Open Mind

2009-04-23T03:43:50-05:00

Making a morning better, a day better, a life better can be simpler than it seems. Letting go of fears and assumptions can be like tossing an old script into the fire. Yoga teacher, artist and writer Sheryl Light captures the Spirit of her yogic philosophy in a short piece about opening to possibility and laughing in the face of limitation.In this very moment permit yourself to float softly and gently down a beautiful path. On this day, be mindful of the places you frequently pass by without really ever seeing. Take time to pause and explore, maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what wonders you find. Right now, exactly where you are, anything is possible. With your next step there are no limitations, only remarkable potential; seek it with an open mind.

Boston World Partnerships

2009-04-09T10:54:23-05:00

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and a passionate new team are pioneering a revolutionary approach to marketing the talent in the city. Creating a global network – essentially a network of networks - the Boston World Partnerships uses Web 2.0 tools and tactics to draw new businesses to the city and connect the people who make those businesses thrive.Is it possible to capture a city’s true value in a campaign? Can a marketing or communication tool encompass the diversity, the potential and the timeline of achievement unique to every town? And will loyalty to one’s home, university or company inspire people to be city evangelists at home and abroad? Mayor Menino and a handpicked team at City Hall think a lot about these questions, and they believe the answer is Yes. In February, the Mayor announced the launch of Boston World Partnerships, a comprehensive, multi-tier effort to promote Boston’s unique offerings to the rest of the world and create a social networking platform for Boston influencers.

Containers 2 Clinics

2009-03-17T03:28:28-05:00

Elizabeth Sheehan who now lives in Dover, MA with her two adopted children, started Containers 2 Clinics to address a catastrophic problem that she experienced first hand and that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has identified as a global priority. Women and children in the poorest areas of the world are dying at shocking rates of diseases which could be cured with basic medical care. The treatment exists, we just need to get it to the right places. And that’s where Containers 2 Clinics comes in. These are the statistics that keep Elizabeth Sheehan up at night: 9,600,000 children under five years old died in 2006 of preventable diseases 40% of child deaths under five years of age occur in first month of life 500,000 women die each year in childbirth 25% of pregnant women do not consult a single health care professional during their pregnancy, (higher in rural areas) As an emergency health care provider in some of the poorest places in the world, Sheehan experienced the real world implications of those statistics first hand. Now she is launching an organization to create an affordable, scalable, sustainable solution. She wants to turn shipping containers into health care clinics. Read more about what you can do to help. Containers 2 Clinics (C2C) P.O. Box 446 Dover, MA 02030 781.435.1080 info@containers2clinics.org

Cook, Step and Dance Your Way to Generosity this Month

2009-03-04T20:19:49-05:00

When it seems like it’s time to be frugal, it’s time to give away more. Now more than ever, your time, attention and energy can make an enormous difference to a cause close to your heart. If you think the economic crisis is bad for you, imagine how bad it is for low-income children, people with Multiple Sclerosis or even a music school working hard to survive through tough times. It’s more important than ever to support charitable organizations in which you believe. Remember, you CAN make a difference. And think how much better you will feel if you go out to benefit someone in need, rather than if you settled for another drown-your-sorrows-cocktail hour.

Connecting to Afghan Women: Communities of Love & Enterprise

2009-02-03T15:42:20-05:00

Rangina Hamidi is the dynamic Afghan women’s leader, activist and advocate who founded Kandahar Treasure, the business jewel of Afghan women’s cottage industries. Meet Rangina and international photojournalist Paula Lerner at a moving multimedia presentation entitled “AFGHAN STORIES.“ Never has it been more important for women to assist one another in a global understanding of the perils so many face while Americans live in relative abundance. Let Rangina and Paula open your eyes and put the world in perspective. Misstropolis will be there, hope you will too. Meet Rangina Hamidi, Afghan women’s leader, activist, advocate, fun-loving entrepreneurial guru and the savvy, sought-after founder of KANDAHAR TREASURE, the business jewel of Afghan women’s cottage industries. Rangina designed this breakthrough business concept in 2003 in order to help Afghan women find sustainable, moneymaking work for their own welfare. On Wednesday, February 4, Rangina brings “AFGHAN STORIES” to Merrimack College at 7:00 PM. In this very special one night only event for the Boston area, Rangina will usher us into the Afghan world of women with a brilliant multimedia presentation that depicts the vibrant yet hidden life of the working women of Afghanistan.