http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/spirit/ en robin@misstropolis.com Copyright 2010 2010-01-26T18:13:57-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/jonathan-demme-presents-the-agronomist-at-the-coolidge/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/jonathan-demme-presents-the-agronomist-at-the-coolidge/#When:18:13:57Z The Coolidge Corner Theater, in conjunction with their annual Coolidge Award will present “The Agronomist,“ a documentary by academy award winning director Jonathan Demme about one of Haiti’s most courageous heroes, Radio Haiti owner Jean Dominique. On March first, while in Boston to accept the Coolidge Award for this year’s festival, Demme will introduce a special screening of his film, with all proceeds going to Haitian relief organizations Yele Haiti and Partners in Health. Get your tickets now, this will sell out fast.The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, Massachusetts will host a special benefit screening of Jonathan Demme’s documentary The Agronomist on Monday, March 1 at 2:00 pm. The screening will be introduced by Jonathan Demme, who will be in Brookline to accept the 2010 Coolidge Award and participate in related festivities. Proceeds from the screening will go to support Haiti earthquake relief efforts through the on-the-ground non-profit organizations Partners in Health and Yele Haiti. spirit 2010-01-26T18:13:57-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/boston-gives-gives-big/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/boston-gives-gives-big/#When:18:24:20Z BostonGives is a unique charity for many reasons. One of the most profound in our minds is that the principals of the organization insist on remaining anonymous. “This is not about having our names out there,“ explained one of BostonGives’ founders at their recent Big Give event. “No names are attached to what we do, we want it to be about the giving, the causes and the fun we can have getting together to give back.“ BostonGives’ Big Give Event took place at the Boston Harbor Hotel in September. In a special piece for Misstropolis, behind the scenes BG miracle workers Megan Leavy and Josh Kennedy write that BostonGives not only makes giving big, it makes giving fun as well. Giving can and should be fun.  This was the genesis of BostonGives, an idea that began over breakfast between three members of the investment industry in Boston, who were seeking a way for their firms to give back to the community. Too many people were suffering from charity fatigue: one rubber chicken dinner too many, one long impassioned speech too many.  Advocates for worthy causes were not reaching willing donors and supporters because charity functions had become obligations. Giving had ceased to be fun. spirit 2010-01-14T18:24:20-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/tony-williams-urban-nutcracker/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/tony-williams-urban-nutcracker/#When:17:41:13Z Tony Williams was the first African American invited to dance in the Boston Ballet. A principal dancer for 9 years, he did his first solo in The Nutcracker. Now with his own dance company, Ballet Rox, and his own school Williams puts on a Nutcracker that more closely reflects his experience growing up. An invigorating mix of the classic and the contemporary, Urban Nutcracker will make your family’s holiday season bright.2008 marks the 8th year of Ballet Rox’s Urban Nutcracker. Inspired by E.T.A. Hoffman’s 19th century fable, but designed to reflect an inner city experience, the Urban Nutcracker takes place in Boston and fuses the old and new in score, style and story. It’s as invigorating and inspiring a holiday performance you’ll see and will forever expand your appreciation for ballet. spirit 2009-11-25T17:41:13-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/350.org-international-day-of-climate-action/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/350.org-international-day-of-climate-action/#When:18:07:08Z You don’t need 350 reasons to read this, you only need one: climate change is real. Here are more anyway: it’s happening now, it’s threatening our planet and your children’s futures will be effected by the actions you take today. With his movement, 350.org, writer and activist Bill McKibben has given new meaning to world wide web. He has social networked his cause into more than 180 different countries and millions upon millions of homes. It may sound simple, but spreading the message that we as a global community must bring carbon dioxide levels down to 350 parts per million to keep our planet safe and halt climate change is anything but. It takes grassroots genius and a global village. You don’t need 350 reasons to read this, you only need one: climate change is real, it’s happening now and it’s threatening our planetary hacienda. However there are more… With his climate change awareness movement 350.org, writer and activist Bill McKibben has created a new world wide web. He has social networked his cause into more than 180 different countries and millions upon millions of homes. It may sound simple, but spreading the message that we as a global community must bring carbon dioxide levels down to 350 parts per million to keep our planet safe and halt climate change is anything but. Here are the pictures to prove it. spirit 2009-10-27T18:07:08-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/leggo-my-ego-the-spirit-of-yoga/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/leggo-my-ego-the-spirit-of-yoga/#When:19:30:44Z Taylor Wells, owner of Prana Power Yoga in New York City, Newton, MA and Cambridge, as well as the just opened Prana Raw Cafe in Newton knows from personal experience that there is no room for egos on the mat. What is the true Spirit of Yoga?Years ago, one of my first teachers stood next to my mat and disciplined me for doing something different than the rest of the class. I was nursing an injured back; I wonder now what he was battling.  “Why do you even bother coming?” He asked loud enough for the whole class to hear. “Why don’t you just practice at home?” I stayed on my mat. Leaving would mean that I had taken on the humiliation that he was unconsciously trying to project onto me. Leaving would mean that I would lose the solace I had learned to find on my mat during a difficult time in my life - the separation from my husband after 18 years. spirit 2009-09-15T19:30:44-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/the-mspca-shows-compassion-with-fashion/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/the-mspca-shows-compassion-with-fashion/#When:20:31:25Z Tails will wag! Fur will fly! On Wednesday, August 5th, 25 dogs will scamper, claw and pant their way down a turf catwalk for the fourth annual Fashion for Compassion fundraiser at the MSPCA Nantucket headquarters. One of the islands most beloved summer events, the canine fashion show creatively draws attention to a serious cause. Animals on the island need our help as much as they do on the mainland. Misstropolis got the scoop from the women running the show. On Wednesday, August 5th, 25 dogs will scamper, claw and pant their way down a turf catwalk for the fourth annual Fashion for Compassion fundraiser at the MSPCA Nantucket headquarters on Crooked Lane. spirit 2009-07-28T20:31:25-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/music-against-myeloma/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/music-against-myeloma/#When:16:22:10Z Not long ago, patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma faced a lonely battle against the disease. Despite growing awareness of other forms of cancer, few knew of myeloma and little was being done to raise awareness and funds toward a cure. Slava Rubin and Matt Ostrower, the founders of Music Against Myeloma (MAM), are part of an influential movement to change that here and abroad. Abigail Jones speaks to the founders in New York City where MAM recently held its annual fundraiser - a deliberately non-black tie party, focused on music and fighting cancer one song at a time.This spring, nearly 150 young professionals dressed in skinny jeans and casual work attire, some tipsy, all of them giddy, gathered at BLVD, a bar in SoHo in New York City. On stage, R&B and jazz sensation Danielia Cotton belted out contagious tunes while the crowd clamored for cupcakes from Sugar Sweet Sunshine (an NYC obsession), cheeses from Murray’s Cheese (another local obsession), and “Cancer Sucks” socks. spirit 2009-06-30T16:22:10-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/revolutionary-philanthropy/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/revolutionary-philanthropy/#When:17:45:32Z Kathy LeMay thought the only way she could make an impact was by donating lots of money to the causes she cared about. But her work as a trusted advisor in the fundraising world has shown her that the most powerful form of philanthropy is available to each and every one of us.My mother spent her life teaching me about making a difference. We went without when I was young—there were times spent in food banks, times we used food stamps. Still, my mother would say, “There is always someone who is worse off. Our job is to help.” spirit 2009-06-03T17:45:32-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/day-with-the-dali-lama/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/day-with-the-dali-lama/#When:01:47:49Z Omgal Rebecca Pacheco reflects on her life-affirming day in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With 15,000 others in the temporarily sacred Gillette Stadium, the author experienced live the compassionate wisdom that had moved her through teachers and readings since she was a college student. A calm mind and when appropriate, a Patriots hat, are what guide him she found, on the path to peace and happiness. Can we learn to follow?Following the Dalai Lama’s visit to Boston this weekend, the media’s coverage of the event, a two-part lecture held at Gillette Stadium, was largely relegated to posts regarding the above photo, wherein His Holiness donned a New England Patriots hat during the afternoon session. I can’t say that I blame them; it was pretty fantastic. The hat, of course, was a gift from Patriots team owner Robert Kraft, who happened to be sitting with his wife Myra, just a few feet away from me, so I snapped a shot of him too. spirit 2009-05-12T01:47:49-05:00 http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/how-do-you-do-it-heroic-words-from-mom-entrepreneurs/ http://www.misstropolis.com/index.php/arts/how-do-you-do-it-heroic-words-from-mom-entrepreneurs/#When:17:22:57Z For us at Misstropolis the approach of Mother’s Day is not a time of panic over what flowers to send or brunch reservations to make. Instead we like to reflect on how absolutely kick ass mothers are every day of every year. Moms who are entrepreneurial highlight the death-defying high wire act that all mother’s perform daily and give us an opportunity for a proud collective cheer. Here, four women reflect on the courage, balance, love and self-knowledge that comes from being business owners - but always mothers first. And surprise! Owning a business requires a lot of the same qualities as being a mom. For us at Misstropolis the approach of Mother’s Day is not a time of panic over what flowers to send or brunch reservations to make. Instead we like to reflect on how absolutely kick ass mothers are every day of every year. Moms who are entrepreneurial highlight the death-defying high wire act that all mother’s perform daily and give us an opportunity for a proud collective cheer. Here, four women reflect on the courage, balance, love and self-knowledge that comes from being business owners - but always mothers first. spirit 2009-05-05T17:22:57-05:00