So far Chad and I have visited with both the University of Alabama and University of Texas chapters. Through this process we’ve gained a peek into the campus and the chapter life these students represent.  More and more I’m reminded how gifted they are. These chapter leaders are incredibly smart, intuitive, and caring. There’s a good chance some of them will be leading our culture and country in the coming years. And on top of this, each of them vibes with the story of TWLOHA in their own unique way-each of them have experienced pain, loss and hope. They are human to the core. As we continue on this trip, the questions that come to me are: How does TWLOHA facilitate the gifts and stories of the chapter’s leaders and members into a collective vision? How do we channel their lives into a force that brings life to the student community? 

Check out the pics and video. Some are from the chapter visits and some are from the road (you’ll see we’ve had success in finding BBQ joints along the way). The video is pretty cool, Allen, the VP of TWLOHA-USA (University of South Alabama) is also fluent in sign language, signed part of the original story as I read aloud.  

Peace,
Denny

Yesterday, Chad and I began our road trip north to the Deep South. The plan is to visit a handful of chapters along the way to Austin, Texas for the two recouped dates of the Pick Up The Phone Tour. Our first stop is the University of South Alabama chapter tomorrow, then we head straight west on I-10 where we will visit the University of Texas chapter and the upcoming St. Edward’s University chapter. After we spend a few days in Austin, we’ll be stopping in New Orleans for a short visit with a close friend. The tour will end at two of Florida’s finest…Florida State University and the University of Florida. Our hope in all of this mad driving is to connect with present and future chapters, to get them excited and for us to be excited, together challenging the process to advance the mission of hope and help in the university setting. And if we’re lucky…score some solid southern BBQ. That’s all for now. Over and out from the road.

Absurd fact of the day: Apparently it’s common knowledge that screaming “Hey cow!” is the only way a cow will respond when yelling at it from a moving vehicle. This was experimented on our way to the St. Leo University event last night when Aaron screamed at a herd of grazing cows from the passenger side of the van. The event went great, and Damion Suomi nailed his first university show with TWLOHA.

Peace,
Denny

For information on how to start a TWLOHA U-Chapter on your campus please e-mail chapters@twloha.com

Jules is someone who has been involved with the organization on every level. She has been a supporter, an intern, a staff member and a friend. Below is an e-mail she wrote after attending the Naperville, IL events last month. She talks about pain, hope, and how sometimes when we’re away from something for awhile, we can forget what it means to us. Originally, she wrote it to share with some of our staff. We wanted to share it with you. Some of the best blogs are those that don’t set out to be one. Her way with words is indescribable… honest, real, inspiring. It’s a reminder that even when you feel the love of a community, loneliness can still surface.

Her desk used to be right next to mine in the bungalow. I should’ve recorded her laugh while she was here so that on the harder days I could replay it and instantly smile. I want her to believe that she has made a difference in so many lives. Jules, I hope as you read this you can feel the love from the community you once lived in every day - your little TWLOHA family. We are still here. :) We know you are still fighting the fight, as are we, and everyone else reading this. We will ALL do that together, no matter how many miles stand between all of us.

With Love, 
Jessica and the team :)

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September 29, 2009

I really want to write something profound right now. but my need for sleep is pushing very hard against my desire to be poetic. in short - i just thought y’all should  know how amazingly inspiring mr. aaron moore was tonight. i mean, if i’m being honest, it’s been a rough couple of weeks up here in chicago. and in walks this crazy little guy, talking about this organization that i feel like i know inside and out.  talking about things i’m sure i’ve heard before. but for some reason, hearing it tonight felt just as powerful, if not more, than the first time.

hearing it tonight… well it was crazy.  crazy to think about how just a few months ago i was living within this strange community, where all of these things were real: love, hope, brokenness, pain, disappointment, joy, pride, vulnerability etc.  all of those things aaron was talking about, i’ve lived it, i’ve seen it on a daily basis, in the… well in what i believe to be one of the most incredibly real environments i will ever have the pleasure of knowing.

but after only a few months away- i some how forgot what all of those things look like- forgot how all of those things play into my life- into the lives of the people i love. in just a few short months i allowed myself to fall back into line with the rest of society… to go back to believing the lies that the media tries to sell us- that depression makes us weak, that it is not okay to ask for help, and worst of all that you (i) should never, under any circumstance, disclose my feelings/emotions to anyone. HOLY CRAP right?  not the jules y’all remember. but that’s what happens. at least thats what happened to me when i left cocoa.

i guess why i am writing is to say this: what y’all are doing is phenomenal.  it is so easy— too easy— to slip in and out of these different paradigms of beliefs.  tonight… in the past few hours, i was reminded that there is hope for me.  while there is definitely a part of me that is sad that i’m no longer a part of the movement- an even bigger, extremely proud part of me is so unbelievably grateful to have the opportunity to a) continue to watch TWLOHA grow and b) continue to be inspired by what y’all are doing.

sorry for the novella. i guess i wrote more than i thought i would. it just felt important to share. i love each and every one of you so much, and i wish you all the best.

jules

The Pick Up The Phone tour is kicking off this October 21! We need two volunteers for each of the dates below. You must be able to provide your own transportation to and from the event. If you are interested, you can get more information by signing up for the Official TWLOHA Street Team here.

10/22 Charleston, SC Music Farm (no B.o.B.)
10/23 Charlotte, NC Fillmore
10/24 Hilton Head, SC Shoreline Ballroom
10/27 Jacksonville, FL Freebird Live
10/28 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
10/30 Orlando, FL House of Blues
10/31 Tampa, FL The Ritz (Ybor City)
11/01 Columbia, SC Headliners
11/02 WASHINGTON, DC 9:30 Club
11/05 Rochester, NY Water Street
11/06 Boston , MA Reason to Live Tenth Anniversary Concert
11/10 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
11/12 Chicago, IL House of Blues
11/13 Detroit, MI Royal Oak
11/14 Kalamazoo, MI State Theater
11/15 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
11/18 Tulsa, OK Cain’s
11/20 Austin, TX Stubb’s
11/21 Austin, TX Stubb’s

Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you this fall!!