tools for peace

Special Camp For Kids Fighting For Their LivesSupported By Music Icon k.d. lang
By Cheryl Jennings

LIVERMORE, Calif., Aug. 21, 2007 (KGO) - An East Bay non-profit group that provides free summer camp for more than two thousand children with life threatening illnesses is getting ready for its annual fundraiser. Thanks to your help, the Taylor Family Foundation is opening its doors to an even wider group of children.

Jamie Price is leading the newest group of young people to visit Camp Arroyo in Livermore. These students are learning about a program called "Tools for Peace."

"So what we've done here throughout the week is worked on cultivating our positive attitudes in order to uncover our wisdom and compassion," said Price.

This chapter of the "Tools for Peace" program was founded by a very high-profile music artist, k.d. lang, and her partner Jamie.

"It's a camp that teaches kids how to navigate through society in a non-aggressive, non-confrontational way, using the blueprint of the Tibetan Mandala," said lang.

"A lot of the kids come from environments that are infested with gang activity. Some of them come from shelters where they live with their mothers who have had trouble with violence in their husbands," said Price.

k.d. lang and Jamie Price were inspired to form Peace Camp by their Buddhist teacher, Lama Gyatso. He and his colleagues came from Los Angeles to meet the kids at Camp Arroyo in Livermore.

"It's not religious in any way, but it does come out wisdom of many religions, many cultures," said Price.

"Everyone has bad days, everyone has difficulties, that you don't know the whole story all the time, that you need to put yourself in other people's shoes," said lang.

k.d. lang put herself in someone else's shoes in the kitchen. It's where she spends some of her time during camp.

"I traveled the world and I see a lot of extraordinary wealth and entitlement and poverty. I think that's one of the things that motivates me to work so hard at what I do," said lang. "The music enables me to have the money that I can spend so much time doing this."

Camp Arroyo was founded by Elaine and Barry Taylor with the Taylor Family Foundation. Peace Camp is very different in their mission to help children.

"We kinda opened it up two years ago to expand and do disabilities and youth at risk," said Elaine Taylor.

"They're very aware that there are some things they never knew about human relationships," said Barry Taylor. "And they're starting to understand their part in it."

Nearly 2000 kids come to camp every summer and attend for free. The children face life-threatening illnesses, so it takes the entire community to raise the million dollar budget it takes to do this.

"We've some amazing auction packages this year, starting with an Elton John Oscar Party," said June Johnstone of the Taylor Family Foundation.

It's a one day, gigantic fundraiser attended by 1000 people held here in Livermore every August.

"Our annual day in the park, which we hope to raise a million dollars, takes care of that, as well as sending other kids to different ancillary social and psychological programs," said Johnstone.

One of the lessons the kids taught us at Peace Camp, is how to avoid saying something we might regret, and the rule is to stop, breathe and think. It's a lesson we could all learn.

13-year-old Ronella Rosenberg says the "Tools for Peace" program helps her with her brother.

"I need to slow down, stop and think about what I'm going to say, and the consequences it might bring," said Rosenberg. "So instead of yelling and everything, I know how to stop, think and breathe, it's really helpful."

The fundraiser is Sunday, August 26 at noon at Camp Arroyo in Livermore.

Click here for more information: Taylor Family Foundation

http://www.toolsforpeace.org
http://groups.msn.com/langisms