For example, in Chicago, a group volunteered at PAWS – twice! – and Atlanta viewers painted a gorgeous mural for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and spent the day with the elderly residents at Nursecare. Here, in San Diego, we started working with the Girl Scouts to help 11-year-old Miriam Mendoza spread the word about preventing domestic violence.

This year, we want to get everyone we know involved in this Ultimate Day “O” Service, which will officially take place on May 26. Farah Meadows, one of our fellow Ultimate Viewers, has discovered a fantastic nonprofit organization called Little Dresses for Africa. The group makes simple dresses out of pillowcases, and distributes them to orphanages, churches and schools in Africa (and, actually, in places in crisis around the world as well). Their goal is to “plant in the hearts of little girls that they are worthy.” We LOVE that.

To date, more than half a million dresses have been made and distributed to 31 different countries in Africa. Let’s get those numbers up!

Please join us in collecting pillowcases. Now is a great time to do your spring cleaning and empty out those linen closets. Ask your children’s teachers to collect pillowcases in class. Have your Girl Scout troop collect. Collect at your book club meeting.

Typically, pillowcases are turned into dresses at sewing parties – you can find the simple, four-step directions here. If you can actually sew the dresses, that’s ideal, but don’t worry if you can’t – the organization is happy to accept pillowcases and sew them themselves. They are also happy to accept tax-deductible donations to cover shipping costs.

Send pillowcases/pillowcase dresses/checks to:

Little Dresses for Africa

24614 Curtis Drive

Brownstown, MI 48134

By May 26, please let us know how many you sent. You can just leave a comment here or send us an email at info@stylesubstancesoul.com. Feel free to send us pictures of the pillowcases/dresses/sewing parties/collections as well. We want to pass all of this on to Oprah, and we will post a follow up at the end of May.

We are so excited about this project, and we know that our StyleSubstanceSoul community will help make it a huge success!

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So, first, here is the video. It’s received more than 50 million views on YouTube and Vimeo alone, and has pretty much taken over Facebook. If you haven’t seen it, please watch it now. It’s 29 minutes long, and more gripping than any half hour TV show.

After I saw this, I was blown away and ready to do anything to help capture Joseph Kony, the number one most dangerous war criminal in the world. But, of course, when something seems so altruistic and motivated by pure, good intentions, criticism is inevitable.

Because we learned a big lesson from the Susan G. Komen fiasco (you can re-read our It’s Time to Re-Think Pink article here or on Huffington Post), I think we all understand the importance of carefully researching any charity you are considering supporting. You need to be comfortable with how donations are spent and what actions the organization is taking to accomplish their goals.

In the case of Invisible Children, criticism has been leveled against the way they use the money they raise as well as the fact that the group’s plan of attack includes military intervention which puts many more children’s lives at risk.

Here are a few good articles to read:

. Think Twice Before Donating to KONY 2012, the Charitable Meme du Jour

. On KONY 2012

. Visible Children

And here’s how Invisible Children has responded:

. Critiques

After all this, I’m a bit torn. There’s no doubt that Joseph Kony must be stopped. And, having seen Invisible Children COO Jason Russell – who narrates the video – speak in person at TEDx in San Diego a few months ago, I believe this campaign and the people behind it do have the energy, passion and determination to really make a difference. They’re already getting young people involved and turning them into activists. They’re teaching them to be aware of what’s going on around the world and to take action if they don’t like what they see. Russell articulately defends the decision to spend substantial money on raising awareness, and it’s hard to argue with his reasoning. Ultimately, I believe Invisible Children is doing more good than bad.

So, what will I do? Will I donate money? Probably not. Will I participate in Cover the Night? Maybe. Will I write to the politicians who can actually apprehend Kony? Absolutely. Will I share the video and both the positive and negatives so people can make their own educated decisions? Done.

Now, what will you do?

We’d like to take a little time today to pay tribute to Dr. Wangari Maathai, who, sadly, passed away on Sunday from ovarian cancer at the age of 71. We feel a very personal connection to Dr. Maathai as we featured her during our very first week of StyleSubstanceSoul.com — three years ago yesterday.

The first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, encouraging women to plant trees across Kenya for both environmental and economic reasons. Because of this innovative project, 30 million trees have been planted and almost a million women have been helped.

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to honor this amazing woman:

* Read our original post about her

* Read her obituary in the New York Times

* Read condolences from dignitaries including President Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Archbishop Demond Tutu, and be inspired to create your own movement

* Plant a tree

* Make a donation to the Wangari Maathai Memorial Fund (which is what we did because we know they will do a better job of planting trees than we ever could)

* Make a donation to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

Thank you, Dr. Maathai, for making the world a better, greener place.

Our Thanksgiving stories usually revolve around both. The stories begin in the morning with the turkey preparation. This was always done to the sound of the parades or football games on the TV in the background, my dad cutting the olives and bread for the stuffing – with a running commentary of how much and the size of the pieces of both, and my mother talking about how she used to love the turkey neck. By now we can all recite her part in unison, and usually do!

As a child, my mom always made the holiday at our house for family and friends. One year, the Levinsons, family friends of my parents, joined us for dinner. They had a daughter, Diana, who was younger than both my sister and me. Diana was very slight and shy. My grandpa Dan, who had a wicked outrageous sense of humor that took some getting used to even for those who knew him well, offered to help this little girl fix a plate at the buffet (which is how we always serve Thanksgiving dinner). He fixed her an enormous plate of food which weighed more than she did. He set it down in front of her at the table and said, “And when you finish that, you can have some more.” Well, she ran crying from the table and I don’t remember her returning! I certainly hope that experience didn’t make Thanksgiving her least favorite holiday.

As a young adult, the tradition had become dinner with family, and an open house for dessert when friends would come by. This tradition took on a life of its own during my college years, my first years married, and really grew once we moved to San Diego from Michigan. It was the one time of year we always visited Detroit and my parents’ house on Thanksgiving evening was the place to gather and catch up with the friends and family we were separated from all year. Once we had kids, it was everyone’s guaranteed time to check in on the cuteness of the offspring. By that time in our lives the order of the draw to the Krause House was 1) My mom’s desserts 2) the cute girls 3) Amy and Paul.  This tradition continued, broken only once, the year Dana was born, when we had a small Thanksgiving in San Diego, which we hosted in our condo. With the long distance phone bill to my mother during the preparation of that meal, along with the cooking supplies and serving dishes purchased, I am quite sure three airfares to Michigan would have been cheaper!

Years ago when we told the girls that my parents were moving here, Sophie asked if we were still going to go back to Grandma Suzy and Papa Gerry’s house for Thanksgiving. I said no, that that wouldn’t be their house anymore, to which she replied, “But what about all the people and the party?!” I told her that we would have Thanksgiving at our house, with people and a party here. And that is exactly what we have done ever since.  Okay, honestly, the only thing I do is have it at our house; my mom and sister make almost ALL the food. The same food my mom has been making since the ’70s, with the wonderful addition of Linda and Ed’s sweet potatoes and the Jensens’ mashed potatoes.

The first year we hosted Thanksgiving in our house, my friend since the 8^th grade, Sherrie, came out to celebrate with us. After all, coming to my parents’ house for at least dessert had been her tradition since 1974 (now you all know how old I am!). Their move affected her holiday tradition as well. I don’t remember how many people we had that year, but our biggest year we had 42 for dinner. It is quite something for us to have and feed that many people in our house given its modest size and electrical panel from 1969. Inside, it looks and smells like Martha Stewart; outside and in the garage, the Beverly Hillbillies! But it has become our thing, and it feels good. It feels good that we have made a life that fills our home with family and friends, a real reason to give thanks.

This year will be the first since we have lived in our house that we will not be hosting Thanksgiving as usual. You see, nothing this year is “as usual” because my dad isn’t here. My sister and my mom just can’t see this remaining our favorite holiday, and maybe this year it won’t be. If it isn’t, I hope it will be again. They couldn’t see continuing with business as usual, when nothing is usual without my dad.

We are all upset by the thought and the reality of Thanksgiving without my dad, but Dana was the most upset by the change in the routine of her favorite day of the year. My mom, my sister and I just couldn’t do the routine so soon, without my dad. So we are changing things up this year. But we promised Dana that we wouldn’t change the food. That has to be and will always be exactly the same.

Each of us holds the stories, the traditions, the routine within us. I hope we find that that is what makes the holiday our favorite. I hope we find more comfort than pain in the familiar yet altered. I hope we all give ourselves a holiday that honors our tradition with this day, Dana’s favorite day of the year. But it won’t be a big crowd, and it won’t be at our house. And someone else will have to supervise the size of the olives and the bread for the stuffing. Thanks to my dad, there will be four qualified women to do just that — me, my sister, Sophie and Dana. After all, we each spent our childhood sitting at my dad’s side, first watching, then once we were old enough to handle a knife, helping.

We’ll be back on Friday with the first of our highly-anticipated holiday gift guides. Look for one each day from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, and make sure you’re signed up so you get them first. You’ll find lots of great ideas for unique, handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts that give back. Now that’s something to be thankful for!

As we stood huddled in the corner of the room watching the replay on my camera, Miriam and I were both overcome with emotion. I was so taken by this young girl who was, at first glance,  like my daughters at that age, laughing and doing an art project with other girls — but the next minute was speaking firsthand about a subject that no one, let alone an 11-year-old girl, should be familiar with. That shook me on many levels. But I didn’t understand why Miriam was crying. At first I thought she was upset about the video for some reason, but she explained that it wasn’t that. It was the fact that her dream of making a difference was actually becoming a reality.

At that moment, this video, Miriam’s poem, her letter and our connection to Miriam took on a whole new meaning. It had always been personal for Miriam, but it became personal to me in that instant. I don’t think I will ever forget that shared experience. I lived many years before I did something that gave me the feeling that I had made a difference. Miriam had lived only 11 years. I felt privileged to have watched her have that feeling perhaps for the first time. I know it won’t be the last. Miriam has just begun.

Dear Olivia Klaus,

I am really happy with the letter you gave me. It really motivates me a lot more to change domestic violence. I never thought a filmmaker would write me a letter because I thought it wasn’t a big issue. At some point, I thought that I wouldn’t change domestic violence. I know that I am not going to change all of it but I just want women to speak out against it.

My idea is to make a club so that women could speak out. I have a question though. I am not sure if I want the club to be for kids my age or older people, or even both. What do you think?

I think that NO other woman should be treated like my cousin because it does not just affect the woman who passes by domestic violence, but it also affects the people who love her.

Thank you again for your letter and all of your support.

Love,

Miriam Mendoza

This is the kind of movie that makes you want to get involved yourself, and the Sin by Silence website offers practical valuable resources, including a list of warning signs. When director/producer Olivia Klaus heard that 11-year-old Girl Scout Miriam Mendoza had inspired us to launch M-Power U with StyleSubstanceSoul.com after her 19-year-old cousin was killed last year by her estranged husband, she wrote Miriam a letter which we are proud to share here.

Olivia is making a difference. Miriam is making a difference. How are you making a difference?

Remember, every 9 seconds … 

Miriam,

Today you have the world ahead of you.  Today you can be anything you want, or be anyone you can dream of being.  Today you have the world at your fingertips.

I remember when I was your age and felt invincible.  Felt like I could take on the world.  Now that many years have passed, I have realized how dangerous our world is.  There are people who want to use you and take your choices away from you.  When you want their attention, love and approval, please remember that love is never supposed to hurt.  Love is not jealous.  Someone who loves you won’t ever use you, isolate you, or trap you.

Your family has experienced the dangers of abusive relationships firsthand.  The heartbreaking death of your cousin Diana was a tragedy, but your passion to make a difference has turned it into an opportunity. I knew that I had to write and let you know how proud I am of your tremendous courage.

From the work I do as a filmmaker, I know women who are on the opposite outcome of what your cousin went through.  The women in our documentary, Sin by Silence, overcame the odds of abuse.  Yet, unfortunately, they paid the ultimate price in protecting themselves, along with their families, and they remain trapped behind prison walls.  Like your cousin, these women found themselves in a relationship and situation with no way out.  Within a split second, they had to make the decision to defend their life against their abusers, and have spent over 20 years in prison.  Yet, it is because there are people like you in this world doing incredible things to bring about awareness that I know lives will be saved.  You are creating an incredible legacy to carry on the memory of your cousin.  I commend you on being a role model activist for all generations.

Miriam, you are amazing.  Already at age 11, you are changing the world!  Thank you for giving me new inspiration to trudge forward in the work that I do to advocate to end violence against women.  Thank you for also being a fellow advocate who is taking on the cause to champion change.  Yet, when you get to high school and you meet that first boy who just sweeps you off your feet, know that the choices you make now will affect you for the rest of your life.  Be strong. Know that you matter. You are beautiful, important, and can change the world.

Forever in my heart,

Olivia Klaus

As we drive into Nawn Thoong village in Thailand’s northeast province of Khon Kaen, Pii Yai is excited. She has served for many years on the board of directors of Prae Pan Group, a women’s weaving co-operative in Thailand’s northeast, whose staff set up our visits today to three villages where members live and work.

We gather across the street at the house of Mae Pit, a long-time Prae Pan member. She and the four other members sit on a mat next to the house, protected from the glaring sun. All in their late 50s, these are the village’s silk weavers. Like most of Prae Pan’s members, they are farmers who fit weaving around their farming chores and caring for their children, grandchildren and elders. Weaving brings in much needed income which is used to send their children to trade school or university, for health care and to improve their lives in the village.

By belonging to the co-op they are paid for their work as soon as they deliver it to the group’s shop in Khon Kaen city. Members are proud that the co-op owns this shop, reflecting the group’s goal of being self-sufficient.

Co-op membership gives members the chance to work with customers like us, who pay 50% in advance for orders. It also gives them a market for their weaving well beyond what they would otherwise be able to reach as individuals.

We talk to the women gathered today about passing on the skills they learned from their mothers. Now their daughters are going off to earn their livings in the cities or on to further schooling. These skills are at risk of being lost, we’re told again and again on visits like these.

Sometimes younger women do return to their village when their children are small, preferring a quieter life where they have family support networks. “When I was young,” says one of the women, “I went away to work in a factory. Then I came back to my village. At home, you’re free. I can farm and I’m happier.”

After choosing samples of silk yarns in some of the colours they can produce in this village, we thank the women, jump in Pii Yai’s truck and arrive a short time later in Nom Thoom. We stop at the house of Mae Nung who is feeding organic mulberry leaves to heritage silkworms in baskets her husband has woven. “Raising silkworms is like raising babies,” she says. The resulting silk yarns, painstakingly reeled by hand, are produced organically, protecting both the women’s health and their local environment.

In neighbouring Suk Som Boon, Mae Nung practices the full circle of producing silk. She grows the mulberry bushes to feed the silkworms, hand reels and twists silk yarns, dyes them with natural dyes that she has grown or gathered in the wild, and weaves. It’s time- consuming work, taking two months to produce 12 handwoven, naturally dyed silk scarves, three months to produce 40 metres of organic silk fabric.

We watch as Mae Pan cuts the reddish green leaves of “maak yao.” She has a new recipe to create a luminescent green. She dips the silk yarns in the simmering dye bath twice, then gets help from Mae Pet, the president of Prae Pan, to straighten the fine yarns and hang them to dry.

Preserving these traditional skills – and bringing income to women in Thailand and Laos’s rural areas – is what’s behind TAMMACHAT’s work. Fair trade is about much more than paying fairly for the work. It’s about respecting the people who do the work, learning from each other and supporting sustainable practices. It makes a real difference in the lives of these women.

“Our weavers are very proud when they can weave cloth beautiful enough to attract customers,” Mae Pet tells us. And well they should be.