Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,

Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope

And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.

The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,

Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.

Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.

Flood waters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us.

As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children.

It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.

Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things.

Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.

At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.

We listen carefully as it gathers strength.

We hear a sweetness.

The word is Peace.

It is loud now. It is louder. Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound.

We are thrilled by its presence.

It is what we have hungered for. Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.

A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you, to stay a while with us.
So we may learn by your shimmering light
How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

Variety Magazine Covers Heifer International and Alternative Gift Giving

The following is a link to a recent article in Variety Magazine:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976680.html?categoryid=2873&cs=1

How Each of Us Can Change the World

Bill Clinton's book entitled Giving features an entire chapter on Heifer International. It's a wonderful read that provides many ideas on how to get involved in your community and around the world.

Here is a link to a news story that discusses the book and its concentration on Heifer's work:

http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1007/466003.html

Cinthia Joyce "Passing On The Gift" Art Show and Benefit

Join us Saturday, November 17 and Sunday November 18 from 12-4pm at this fabulous art show and benefit featuring the art of Cinthia Joyce. She will have paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography available, and 25% of the proceeds will benefit Heifer International.

You can find more information at www.cinthiajoyce.com or call our office at 562-431-4849.

Welcome to our Blog!

Heifer International is a non-profit organization committed to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. As such, we operate with a talented, committed, and diverse group of volunteers who help us put this mission into action. Our hope is that this blog will help our efforts and serve as a notice board of upcoming events and opportunities in the Southwest region of Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii.

Please contact Catherine Scott, the Community Relations Coordinator of the Southwest region if you have an event you would like to publicize on this blog. She can be reached at catherine.scott@heifer.org. Please also link this blog to folks in this area who would like to know more about how to get involved with Heifer as a donor or volunteer.

We will be updating and filling out the blog as time goes on, and hopefully it will be a dynamic resource for everyone involved with Heifer and those hoping to become involved!