International press is always a good thing! What a way to bring in the new year!

Here is the link to see my interview on Backstory:

For show times, have a look a CNN International’s Inside Africa page.

Enjoy!

Love,

Team Upbeat

This bleak, sleeting morning I was driving to CNN to finish a 30-minute special we’re producing on the African Children’s Choir. The special, “Songs of Hope” takes a fraction of my footage and bits from the Choir’s 25 years of archives to put together an amazing story of Music for Life through the eyes of two of its newest members and two of its most successful former members.  We’ll post the sneak-peak CNN Backstory on here shortly… and be sure to tune in to see the special – air times are listed here: www.cnn.com/insideafrica.

Anyways, on the way to work at the intersection of Andrew Young Blvd. (named after one of my heroes) and Peachtree Rd. (the famed Main. St. of Atlanta) the stop light was out. Instead of lighting up green, yellow and red to organize an already over-organized high-traffic society, it was simply a flashing red light. The kind you get when the light breaks.

So here I am - it’s New Year’s Eve, wintry-mix sunrise, crowded intersection smack dab in the middle of downtown Atlanta and the light is broken. You may think I would get frustrated and curse aloud. But no, it was one of the sweetest moments of peace and harmony.

Everyone came together, we were a community in our array of individual cars. No one ran the light or took advantage of it’s brokenness to beat their neighbor to work or to the airport to catch a flight to see the ball drop. Here we were and it was already the new year, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. But the rush stopped for a second and all as well. Together, we took turns. We all looked around to make sure the pedestrians had a chance. It was the essence of humanity, pure and simple care for one another. Beauty from a flashing red light.

One of my best friends, Julia, told me a story one splendid Spring day back in Charlottesville. We were walking down our college-town street, bursting with fresh blooms, watching the fancy cars drive by. I was judging them. Them in their nice cars, not doing anything to help the world. Judging people I didn’t even know. She explained something C.S. Lewis once noted – people are like cars. We come into this world and are given a certain car. It may go fast, or slow, be bright and shiny, or dull and dented. It’s our choice how we decide to drive our cars. And how we decide to treat the other cars on the road.

The moment of peace this morning with the intersection coming together was a perfect example of how we all CAN be kind with our cars. On Backstory yesterday, I noted that the real Africa is not just the bad news and corruption you see on the news, it’s also the sweet moments of people helping out the pedestrians at the flashing red light.

This new year, I pray that you are able to feel that same inner peace. The world is good. The precious kids in the African Children’s Choir remind me everyday that there is hope. There is a reason to use my small green car to lift them up.

…It’s here! The long awaited for Upbeat film trailer. I know you’re excited! It’s the best Chrismahanukwanzakah present our editor Christian could ever give me… and YOU!

According to the above link, Virgin Mobile USA created the holiday for a 2004 Commercial… well come on Virgin Mobile USA — and every other company/person/foundation – we’re celebrating it here on the Upbeat blog… so you can give a little gift, too. Click the Chipin button on the right to compete with Christian for the best Chrismahanukwanzakah present in the whole wide world. Not only will you make me happy, but also 12 Million Orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa.

That’s right. The UN estimates there are at least 12 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the 2008 UN AIDS report. And guess what we’re doing with the money? All monies donated here go to production costs of Upbeat. Once Upbeat is complete, it will be totally owned by Music for Life and the African Children’s Choir^™… and they will use the film to show the world the dignity, beauty and unlimited potential of the African Child. All of the proceeds of sales of the film will be used to help more of these 12 Million Orphans — enabling them to make a difference in their own country as they lead fulfilling lives — — bringing music for today and hope for tomorrow.

Come join in with us as we celebrate this very special holiday in the spirit of what all three holidays started as – miracles of life and light and times to give.

Here is our Chrismahanukwanzakah gift to you— enjoy!

PS – We’re giving you an early New Year’s gift as well… the African Children’s Choir currently touring the N. American west coast will be on the Jay Leno Show TONIGHT! Hopefully you will be able to spot Stella and Jonah— we’ll give you a hint about your post-holiday gift— they might also be seen here soon. Cheers!

PPS – If you get your donations in on Chip-in or checks post-marked and sent by Dec 31st— you get to write the gift off on your taxes for this year!!! Another gift from team Upbeat to you!