Caring. Connection. Community. These are the essence of Urban Zen. I invite you to care with us— to share with us in this new blog community.

On the outside, we are unique individuals, each one of us with our own inimitable path to wholeness, and our own story to tell. At the core, we are one.

Join us here at Urban Zen in our new blog community, so that together we can empower each other in the sacred task of listening to the voice of the patient, and the voice of the loved one.  Blending in harmony, we can heal the heart of the world.

The Urban Zen Foundation is excited to announce that Donna Karan will co-host the first annual Women Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Symposium alongside fellow leaders, Sarah Brown and Arianna Huffington. This conference will take place on September 20, 2010, and will welcome the most powerful women in politics, philanthropy, media, fashion, and the arts. The White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) for safe motherhood, which focuses on the promotion of maternal and newborn health around the world, is hosting this event.  The conference will coincide with a United Nations review summit on the Millennium Development Goals, also being held in New York City. The gathering will center on “women inspiring women”- creating a global community passionate about positive social change and encouraging the next generation of female role models. Confirmed speakers span a wide variety of professions and include supermodels and charity campaigners, as well as renowned political leaders, authors, and photographers (Click to view speakers). By bringing together an extraordinary audience, the WIE Symposium functions as a powerful platform for educating the world about the work of the WRA. All proceeds from this event will benefit the WRA as well as the Urban Zen Foundation, its non-profit partner.

To learn more or for tickets please visit http://www.wienetwork.org/

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NINE WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME…
AND THE WORLD

We all have our role models we respect and look up to. My list is endless. So many of them happen to be women I know, have met or have had the privilege to work or partner with.  It’s a pleasure to honor these ten specific role models. (Trust me, I could have added a hundred more.) Each is a life force of style and grace. And each accesses her God-given talent and poetic brilliance to make a difference in this world we share.

ANNA WINTOUR
No mission is impossible for Anna. She takes an idea to its manifestation, a dream to reality, from the runway to the White House. She also is able to talk to the consumer in season – something I’ve always wanted to do. My journey with Anna has truly been inspiring. A simple thought becomes a movement, whether it’s 7th on Sale, Kids for Kids, The Met gala or Fashion’s Night, Anna succeeds beyond every expectation.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON
Talk about the power of communication. Arianna has created a community of awareness and action with The Huffington Report. It’s an absolute, must-read of each and every day. More than that, she literally wrote the book on Becoming Fearless….in Love, Work and Life. Arianna empowers us with everything she does.

BARBRA STREISAND
My best friend and sister. We’ve traveled life together for so many years. Barbra makes a difference in the world with a voice and intellect that touches every one of us. She’s God’s gift of creativity: singer, actress, designer, activist and diplomat. She deserves to be a diva. Her heart touches our hearts on so many issues, including her work with the Women’s Heart Center at Cedar-Sinai, raising awareness on heart disease, the number one killer of women today.

CHRISTY TURLINGTON
Christy and I started our journey together in the fashion world and now are partnering to change the global world. A mother, a film producer and consummate yogi, Christy is dedicated to helping and supporting the needs of others. Realizing the importance of our mission at Urban Zen, she partnered with me by helping to initiate our very first forum as the voice of a loved one. Chisty is also an advocate for the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, and for maternal
health “Mothers Matter” for Care.org.

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
Diane has strength of character like no one know. She’s evolved from a background of personal adversity to become a pro-active person full of love and joy. She leads the way forward, whether she’s designing a dress, a lifestyle or heading the CFDA. Whatever else Diane’s does, she puts her family first and center – something I can relate to.

HILLARY CLINTON
As if being First Lady wasn’t enough! Hillary is a wife, mother and ambassador to the world. I have such enormous respect and admiration for how she does all it all with such integrity, intelligence and effectiveness. And she makes it all seem so effortless. When we first met, in addition to dressing Hillary, we connected on health care reform, addressing its many pressing needs. It’s been such a pleasure and honor to watch her grow as a woman in charge. 

OPRAH WINFREY
Oprah is simply a force of nature. How better to describe someone who shapes and influences the world around her? Oprah is the ultimate communicator. If she’s on television, we watch. If she speaks, we listen.
If she writes, we read.
If she cares about something, we care too.
Even the president listens to Oprah.

TRUDIE STYLER
Trudie balances it all and then some. A wife, mother, actor, producer, director, and yogi, and she maintains beautiful homes all over the world. Yet somehow she finds time for several philanthropic causes as a human rights activist, environmentalist and UNICEF ambassador. Trudie was among the first to acknowledge the devastation of the rain forest and bring it to our attention. I admire everything about Trudie – including her amazing marriage and partnership with Sting.

Urban Zen is excited to be featured in this week's New York Magazine.  Both the screening of "The Big C" and Super Saturday aligned with our well-being initiative. We are honored that we could be a part of both events this summer in the Hamptons.

On the warm and breezy afternoon last Saturday, Right to Play (RTP), a global Humanitarian organization, hosted their awareness creation event at Urban Zen in Sag Harbor.

While children fenced, boxed and played parachuting games with Olympic athletes, Alexa Ray Joel sang and taught the audience several Right to Play songs. Her mother, Christie Brinkley, settled in for the afternoon and proudly watched her daughter’s performance. Christie mentioned that she was very happy to be there, and that she greatly supports RTP. We had a full house and a surprise visit by Richard Gere.

Devon Harris, one of the members of the first Jamaican Bobsled who served as inspiration for the movie “Cool Runnings,” was there to instill hope and perseverance in the attending children. His books, “Keep on Pushing” and “Yes I Can,” were sold at the store.

Mario Argote, who works at RTP, told us that research shows that unstructured play increases kids’ IQ points. The simple things, like playing with a ball, improve human interaction, and are much better than watching TV or playing video games.

Right to Play (RTP) uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Working in both the humanitarian and development context, RTP builds local capacity by training community leaders as Coaches to deliver its programs in 21 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

After an afternoon of kids playing, the activities moved to the Urban Zen store, where the adults enjoyed drinks and hors d’oevres. Donna Karan welcomed the guests and expressed her gratitude to Bettina for bringing all the parties together. Children’s Empowerment is one of the focus points for Urban Zen, and the mission of RTP aligns perfectly our mission.

Bettina Stelle, who sits on the Right to Play board and is involved with Urban Zen, brought the two organizations together. She fell in love with RTP after traveling to Ghana and experiencing the impact of their work in the refugee camps. Bettina, a photographer, donated her work to RTP. The Urban Zen store in Sag Harbor is selling the images, and donating a percentage to Right to Play and Urban Zen Foundation.

PHOTO CREDIT: Doug Young

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Right to Play  |  www.righttoplay.org