A Lesson On Circles - Stop Stuff Stand Down, Los Angeles

SNM, Esq.
Aug 20, 2017
3 min read

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

William Henley

That's how the Stop Stuff Stand Down began on August 19, 2017 at noon.

Those are the words I was compelled to speak.

I truly believe that we are the masters of our fate. I know that it requires work and dedication from the entire community, the human community, to make a difference.

We can all collectively agree that we need to stop gun violence, human trafficking, child abuse, poverty, hunger, etc., etc.

These are not partisan issues. These are human issues.

Saturday was an interesting day, being 1 week after the terrorist events in Charlottesville and on a day where protests and counter protests were taking place around the country.

Peace won the weekend.

I continued on, sharing bit of my story and the mission of Stop Stuff in terms of oneness and unity.

Many of you know me as a business women. Some of you know me as a activist. A few of you know me as an artist.

In artist mode, I let the Stop Stuff Stand Down take shape, as I do with any other art form I create.

The best laid plans are meant to be broken, shaped by time, place and need.

I had thoughts of people standing 10 deep, proudly wearing their Stop Stuff hats, standing up against gun violence and for the people around the country impacted by it, but that was not the destined format.

I remembered my conversations and research on circles that I did when I first started Stop Stuff.

Circles are symbolic is so many ways, representing an ancient way of story telling, of passing down history and lessons to the future generations.

When you're in circle, you are facing your brothers and sisters. Somehow, it creates a bond of natural compassion and understanding.

Since no one is standing above, below, in front or behind, circles also create a sense of equality and equanimity.

We filled the auditorium with the Stop Stuff circle and the sharing began.

I asked who'd been directly impacted by gun violence. Reluctantly, a few raised their hands. Soon, the room was filled with authentic and tangible stories of gun violence, from loss of family, to being raped and/or kidnapped at gun point, to having an AK-47 held to a woman's head to being the actual shooter.

This circle of unity, of oneness, where at least 90% of the people had a story to share, made it crystal clear that gun violence impacts each and every one of us.

No one is immune, no one.

Once every last story was heard, we set a timer for 2 minutes to honor those stories and to put our energy toward change.

"That's what peace feels like."

Those were my closing words.

To those who came, who shared, who put in the work everyday, I thank you deeply.

A special shout out to my friend "Rarebreed", a leader in Cease Fire, L.A. We cannot thank you enough for the work you do. It is an honor and a privilege to know you.

A special shout out to my friend, Rotarian, humanitarian and author, Mark Fowler, who contributed the Stop Stuff hats for the event.

To United Hood Nation and the Church of Scientology, I am honored and grateful to be in your presence as you step forward daily to uplift humanity. Thank you.

To LaTonya Allen, Sarah Hatfield and Tracy Uneberg, thank you for all that you do, for your expertise, encouragement, openness and your presence.

Our first Stop Stuff Vanguard event, with the help of our sponsor, Shinola, will be in Los Angeles on October 5, 2017. Stay tuned for more information.

With the deepest gratitude, I am humbled and hopeful,