Dear Friend,
As we come to another year end, we get an opportunity to review where we have been and what we have done, in not only the search for our success, but also in ways we can be of service to others. Herein we recap another beautiful year.
In gratitude, I must inform you that today and tomorrow are important days for the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, as the San Diego Community Foundation will match any donations to TKF given on these days at this LINK.
Enjoy yourself at these special times of holiday.
~ Azim N. Khamisa
OTHER LINKS:
For Azim's Facebook link, click HERE.
For Tariq Khamisa Foundation link, click HERE.
For the "My Hero" Award Video, click HERE.
|
|
AZIM'S MONTHLY MUSINGS
|
|
A Look Back on a Year of Sacred Service
Albert Schweitzer once said, "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." This is so true. My son Tariq's tragic murder 17 years ago propelled me to a life of service, which has led to some substantial work. It's the type of work that even I did not know that I had the strength or the knowledge to do.
I find the life of service is what continues to lead to my passion and purpose, and it showed up throughout 2011.
The year has been another very busy year of serving children, youth, adults and families. I feel blessed to have made the choice of forgiving Tariq's killer and joining forces with his grandfather and guardian ... the choice that propelled me into the forgiveness work.
My life is very fulfilling and meaningful, and I am blessed to have connected with my spiritual purpose. We all have a spiritual purpose, but sometimes it is complicated to know what that is. It became apparent to me in the gift that came out of a dark tragedy. I have discovered that when you are in sync with your spiritual purpose the Universe supports you and allows you to - in close partnership - accomplish so much.
As is my norm in my December Newsletter, I'd like to recap the year, in the three major areas of impact:
1. Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) - In its 16th year, TKF reaches tens of thousands of kids each year, successfully turning them away from gangs, guns, violence, drugs and alcohol. Through its powerful story, TKF teaches the principles of nonviolence, compassion, forgiveness and peacemaking. It has developed the country's only "Safe School Model" for middle schools, wherein unsafe and dangerous campuses are transformed into peaceful campuses. I started the foundation with a simple premise: "Violence is a learned behavior." No child was born violent. If you accept that as a truism, it follows that "Nonviolence can also be a learned behavior." However, you have to teach it. Our children are not going to learn the principles of nonviolence through osmosis. TKF has taken the mandate to teach these important principles, and for this I am so proud.
The challenge continues to be financial resources especially in the current market. To support the cause, you can visit www.TKF.org site on December 14 or 15 and donate. The great news is that the San Diego Community Foundation will match your donation on these special dates. See Link HERE.
2. CANEI - In its 10th year, Constant and Never Ending Improvement was developed under the auspices of the National Youth Advocate Program (www.NYAP.org) headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. NYAP is in the top six percent of the country's nonprofit organization and does amazing work for children, youth and families, serving more than 2,000 families on a daily basis. CANEI is an intervention program helping youth offenders turn their lives around in order to become contributing and responsible members of society. With the grace of God, CANEI is already in seven cities, and I am working diligently to bring the program to Los Angeles in 2012. While the state system spends $130,000 a year and produces 85 percent recidivism rate, the cost of CANEI is $30,000 a year, producing a recidivism rate of under 30 percent. Each year the program expands, and there is also international interest for this program in Hawaii, England and Australia.
3. Keynotes and Seminars - It was an honor and pleasure to present keynotes talks and various types of seminars. The year has been a busy year for keynotes, seminars and consulting. My commitment to help people heal through forgiveness and to create a more peaceful world through the practice of forgiveness is taking hold. The year saw me in various venues in the USA, Australia and Europe. There is also an interest in bringing my forgiveness workshop to Belize where I spent a week on vacation over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
______________________________
2011 HIGHLIGHTS
-
The birth of first granddaughter March 12 - Miya Remy
-
Guest in Dr. Patricia Geist Martin's SDSU classes
-
Talks at Starr Commonwealth organization
-
Two "Train the Trainer" Forgiveness Seminars
-
Passionate Performance seminar to the management team at private girl's school in Adelaide, Australia
-
Presenter at Utah State Courts Leadership Development Conference
-
Presentations at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living during the "Season for Non-Violence"
-
Presenter at the National Gang Symposium
-
Trip to Hull, England - rekindling restorative justice
-
Keynote at Loyola Law School's launch of the 2nd "restorative justice" center in the country.
-
Speaker at "Passport to Life"
-
Spoke to prisoners at Leavenworth
-
Trip to Australia - 17 presentations in 11 days in three schools
-
Recipient of "My Hero" Award in December - Click LINK
-
Recipient of the Spiritual Hero of 2011 from "Science of Mind"
-
Presented to many schools in Iowa
-
Several presentations in Maui and Oahu on TKF and CANEI Programs
______________________________
In my 17 years of work, I have discovered that people are either in resentment for what has been done to them or in guilt for what they have done to others. These are highly debilitating states and prevent you from playing the game of life at 100 percent of your potential. The Train the Trainer Forgiveness Workshop is designed to help people rid themselves of resentment or guilt so you can go out there and contribute at your zenith and create a better world. A 3-day program that starts on Friday evening and is completed on Sunday evening, the workshop typically holds 14 to 18 people. Interested parties can contact Jennifer at Jennifer@AzimKhamisa.com.
The other workshop I have developed is called the Passionate Performance Workshop. Normally done with management teams both in the for-profit and the nonprofit world, it is a daylong seminar designed to help create unity in management teams. Wherever there are people, there is potential for conflict. This workshop teaches leaders to be "soulular" leaders (lead from the spirit) and teaches how conflict can be transformed into unity. The result is a very well aligned team that can then move mountains where all the team members are working at their best.
As the norm as well, I would like to acknowledge those people in my life who help make this work happen, and help make me happy. The TKF Board & Staff, NYAP Board and Staff and all the CANEI staff and the ANK team: Jim, Jennifer and Susan, as well as Santiago (jack of all trades) and Diana (housekeeper). Also a thank you to my family Tasreen, Mehrdad, Shahin, Khalil, and Miya who bring untold happiness in my life. And finally thank you to the Universe for choosing me to do this work.
In the end, as we say goodbye to another year, we look forward to a new one. Another chance to make a difference. Another year to do our best, work at our zenith, and inspire others to do the same. So we can live a life of purpose as we live a life of service.
Many Blessings,
Azim N. Khamisa
|
|
TKF Fundraiser - December 14 and 15 |
|
Today Starts the Special Give Big Matching Event
The San Diego Foundation is offering a great opportunity for TKF to raise additional funds through its GiveBIG matching event!
From December 14 (7 am PST) to December 15 (7 pm PST), you can make a minimum $25 online donation through clicking HERE.
Please consider a minimum $25 donation to support TKF's efforts. The San Diego Foundation will match TKF's total donations on a pro-rated basis. Thank you in advance for your investment in addressing youth violence.
TKF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity - Tax Exempt ID# 33-0688465
|
|
CARTOONS OF FUN AND FOLLY |
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL SCREENING OF IMPORTANT COMMUNITY FILM |
|
"Indoctrinated" Film Part of 1000 Breaths II Event
On December 31, 2011, a community will gather to not only hear of the solution to ending child prostitution, but to also view the world-wide release of the documentary "Indoctrinated" that will make such a difference. Be a part of the solution. Be a part of history. A change from last year's mass "breathwork" session, this event will hold a mini-concert of uplift from international recording artist Karl Anthony and a powerful ceremony wherein we will go deeply within to release anything unlike our freedom and peace.
DATE: Saturday, December 31, 2011
TIME: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. PST
LOCATION: St. Marks Sanctuary, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117
COST: $15 online; $20 at the door
Tickets at www.1000Breaths.com
|
|
Newsletter
Contact Us
Send to a Friend
Comments
There are no comments.