A Conversation with Patricia Arquette: An exercise in Giving Love
Last Updated on Monday, 6 February 2012 03:35 Written by Urban Zen Thursday, 19 January 2012 04:44
Recently, Urban Zen had a fantastic opportunity to connect and collaborate with Patti Hansen and Patricia Arquette to distribute survival bags to women living in tent camps in Haiti. The project was borne out of an inspired conversation that our founder, Donna Karan, had with her long-time friend Patti Hansen. Patti and Molly Madden recently launched a new collection of bags called, “Hung on U,” and Donna immediately thought of Haiti. A few conversations later, the idea of the Survival Bags came into being. Patti provided the bags and Patricia Arquette distributed them to the women she works with through her GiveLove Foundation in Haiti.
The beautiful bags were filled with the essential items needed most by the women living under the difficult circumstance of tent life including: underwear, Medika Mamba Plumpy’nut nutrition bars, a poncho, a pair of flip flops, a whistle, a flashlight and purified water tablets.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Patricia Arquette who distributed the bags. We chatted with her about all things Haiti and the experience of giving love by giving out the survival bags.
Here, we share our conversation to you:
Urban Zen: Can you tell us a little bit about the work you’re doing in Haiti?
Patricia Arquette: GiveLove started working in Haiti right after the earthquake in one of the largest tent camps in Citi Soleil. We realized right away that the lack of sanitation was a public health disaster. After learning more about Haiti, it became obvious to us that the lack of sanitation was a systemic problem even before the earthquake and 80% of the rural people had no clean water or toilets. Only the wealthiest people in Port-au-Prince have access to adequate sanitation. We couldn’t turn away from the fact that poor sanitation causes more deaths than HIV and malaria combined, and sadly diseases like cholera kill children and the elderly who are most vulnerable to infection. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be consumed with finding affordable sanitation solutions for the poorest people or have to understand pathogen death rates. The system that we’ve chosen to implement in Haiti is called thermophilic composting, and it’s a very simple and easy way to completely sanitize waste and convert it into compost that can be used for agriculture and reforest Haiti.
Learn MoreExperiencing Haiti through Donna’s Eyes
Last Updated on Friday, 16 December 2011 04:16 Written by Urban Zen Friday, 16 December 2011 01:54
“I love being an ambassador for Haiti and taking new people on my journeys is very exciting for me. There is nothing I love more than showing people Haiti through a new lens. You can’t not be inspired.” – Donna Karan
On Donna’s most recent trip to Haiti she took with her a crew of new travel companions, all of whom were very excited to experience Haiti through her eyes.
Haiti has been a remarkable conduit for inspiration for Donna and the entire Urban Zen team. We thought it would be interesting to check in with Donna’s new travel companions before and after the trip to see what they think of Haiti.
Here, a round up of their responses:
PRE-TRIP:
What are you most looking forward to about this trip?
“To see a country being rebuilt; to see this kind of progress is really exciting for me.”
“It’s my first time going to Haiti. I am interested in seeing what’s really going on. I watch on TV, and I read about what all of these wonderful organizations are doing … I am happy to be part of it in one way or another.”
“I am really interested in the culture. I’ve read some Haitian literature and am very interested in the art – but really for me, I am most looking forward to the humanitarian element… meeting people. Judging by Donna’s schedule for us, it’s going to be an adventure. I’ve really been looking forward to it.”
Learn MoreThe Children for Children Haiti Project: Holiday Greetings
Last Updated on Monday, 12 December 2011 07:14 Written by Urban Zen Monday, 12 December 2011 05:05
“When something is made by hand, you feel the soul that went into it.” – Donna Karan
We couldn’t agree with these words from our founder more, and these hand-drawn holiday cards portray this sentiment beautifully. As a part of our Children for Children Haiti Project kids from the Rudolf Steiner School in NYC created these imaginative holiday greetings for children in Haiti and this weekend the Urban Zen team had the pleasure of hand-delivering the thoughtful cards to Haitian orphans.
We were inspired and moved by the artwork and we thought you would be too.
Here, a selection of the children’s holiday cards:
This Week’s Community Highlights!
Last Updated on Friday, 14 October 2011 05:47 Written by Urban Zen Friday, 14 October 2011 05:47
This week, conversations with @Urban_Zen spanned the whole spectrum of our initiatives. We asked our members if there was a time when they responded with understanding rather than with anger. @thepathtochange learned about empathy from his experience witnessing mistreatment of the mentally ill. @sunnycoastbb shared with us her painful experience with an abusive partner, learning about patience and restraint. As @guerillacharity stated, unconditional love is innate—not learned. @DadaMamA3 and @CultureDoctor expressed their thoughts on our Preserving Cultures initiative, pointing out valid issues facing the third world as they engage philanthropic efforts arriving from developed nations. @AAPremlall shared her thoughts on using essential oils for wellness and @Tao23 remarked on the need for an expanded view on healthcare by moving beyond the Western paradigm. We are thrilled whenever #uzfevent guests such as @daffneemichelle join our online community. With our new store opening in Los Angeles, we look forward to our growth as more and more communities begin to the encounter the interconnected philosophy of mind, body, and spirit that Urban Zen represents.
Learn MoreHaiti: Open For Business
Last Updated on Friday, 21 October 2011 11:30 Written by Donna Karan Wednesday, 21 September 2011 02:46
New York City is a bustling hive of global activity this week as the UN General Assembly has gathered and the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting is in session. I was honored to open the doors of the Urban Zen center to welcome many of these of leaders, including Haiti’s President Martelly and Rwanda’s President Kagame as our guests last night at Urban Zen, for a celebration of Dr. Paul Farmer’s book, “Haiti: After the Earthquake.”
It was a very special evening that allowed for Haiti to come into the spotlight, highlighting it’s growth, development and potential for business – issues that I have come to support and believe in with great passion. It made my heart soar to see President Martelly take the stage to reintroduce Haiti to the global community saying, “Come to Haiti and recognize the strength and wealth that we have. I welcome you to come and visit. Haiti is now open for business – don’t see me as the president of Haiti, see me as your partner.”
With every visit to Haiti and every new, creative Haitian I meet, I become increasingly convinced of the possibility and potential of Haiti and believe that the marriage of philanthropy and commerce will serve as the solution for rebuilding this country. Last night truly exemplified everything we have been striving for with our Hope, Help & Rebuild Haiti mission. In fact, Dr. Paul Farmer said it best when he said, “If you want to help Haiti, create jobs. Relief is behind us, rebuilding is ahead.”
I was enormously grateful when President Martelly shared with me that, “Urban Zen feels like a Haitian home.” Haiti captured my heart in the first moment I experienced the vibrant country, so recreating a small piece of Haiti’s essence at Urban Zen is a great honor for me.
Special thanks to Dr. Paul Farmer, President Martelly, President Kagame, Michelle Jean, Wyclef Jean, Philippe Dodard, Partners in Health and my Urban Zen team for making the evening a success.
