I am back in LA celebrating Sean Penn and the groundbreaking work he has done through his foundation J/P HRO.

I believe in the power of community, and I have to say that the community that I have come to know, love and support in Haiti is one of the most effective examples I have experienced of like-minds coming together to create real, positive change. To me, Sean represents the kind of hope and possibility that lies ahead for Haiti.

I was honored to be able to come to LA, to support Sean at a gorgeous J/P HRO fundraiser organized by Cinema for Peace. Not only was Sean awarded for his remarkable work in Haiti he was also named, “Ambassador-at-Large,” by the Haitian foreign minister. I truly have no words to describe what this man has done… Sean is a force and I couldn’t be more proud of him!

I was thrilled to see such an exceptional turnout, which spoke to the outpouring of love for Haiti. Guests included Julia Roberts, Demi Moore and her gorgeous daughter Rumer, Selma Hayek, Petra Nemcova, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Orlando Bloom and musical guests Arcade Fire and Damien Rice. The evening was hosted by Bill Maher and honored Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff Cheryl Mills. It was a room full of people who have built careers off of their ingenious ability to be creative and inspiring; all gathered together to support Sean, who inspires all of us.

Adding to the celebratory energy of the event were those who joined in spirit. Both Oprah and Bill Clinton sent recorded messages to celebrate Sean’s work. In addition to Oprah’s heartfelt message to Sean, she generously pledged to match donations from the auction, helping to raise over 5 million dollars for Haiti. It was truly incredible to witness how a small event was so large in heart and I loved the way it embodied the philosophies that we embrace at Urban Zen – like minds coming together to address challenges and create solutions. It was a truly inspiring experience!

The Haiti conversation continued the following day when I had the opportunity to gather together with some of Haiti’s biggest supporters including Sean Penn and Petra Nemcova. We discussed new ways to collectively, bring our passion for Haiti together to create unprecedented change. We poured over so many of the issues that I care deeply about including preserving Haiti’s culture, improving Haiti’s healthcare, tackling education, rebuilding housing, bolstering creativity.

To see this kind of community come together with committed passion and resolve for Haiti is nothing short of extraordinary.