Date: 1/12/12
Location: Los Angeles
Time:
Q: Who or What inspires you? Why?
A: I'm inspired by the little magical moments that are hiding in plain sight all around us - whether it's a crack in the sidewalk in the perfect shape of a star or the surprised smile on the face of a stranger who I randomly wave at. It's those little pieces in time that are so fleeting, the details of the world around us that we could very well miss if we don't pay enough attention, the connections that we can make with others with just the tiniest bit of effort that really make me feel lucky to be alive.
Q: What does creativity mean to you?
A: Creativity means letting go and tapping into the wellspring of energy that I think we all have access to if we cultivate it, give it room to grow and commit ourselves to expressing it in whatever ways that speak to us. For me, creativity is really a way of life. It informs absolutely everything I do because if I ignore it or fail to nurture it, I wind up miserable.
Q: What is your favorite place in the world?
A: Big Sur, CA
Q: What do you love most in the world?
A: My friends and family.
Q: What are the causes you care about? How do you actively support these causes with your time, money or other method/resource?
A: Social justice. Community building. The arts. I'm the Director of Development for the Echo Park Time Bank and the California Federation of Time Banks, organizations that circumvent the mainstream economy by matching untapped resources (social capital) with unmet community needs. I sit on the board for Law Project LA, an organization that provides outreach, education and advocacy to help people navigate their job search with dignity, determination and hope after suffering a criminal conviction. For nearly a decade I worked with youth at-risk in school and juvenile justice settings, creating a national best-practice youth court program, developing social justice curriculum for high school and founding a public art program for graffiti convicted teens for the city of San Diego, CA. I helped develop The Women's International Perspective (www.thewip.net), a website that publishes news, world opinion and commentary by women from around the world. I recently finished writing a book for Teen Truth - an organization dedicated to giving youth a voice - designed to help teens, teachers and parents address bullying and school violence, communicate honestly, develop empathy and ultimately make a difference in their communities. I'm also currently the President and Creative Director of the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce where my focus is on helping local business thrive by becoming more interdependent and connected.
Q: What question do you want to ask me?
A: What was your biggest moment of 2011?
NMK: Dancing to "Thriller" on a Traffic Island with my fellow Echo Park Time Bankers!
Q: What question do you wish I asked you and what is your answer to it?
A: What's the one piece of advice you would give to others to make the world a better place?
SM: Give of yourself. The world needs you.
NMK: Be yourself.
Bio:
Sarah McGowan is is a writer, editor and photographer and the principal/owner of Mac+Cob Business Therapy, a boutique creative services company that specializes in turn-around, strategic planning, branding and communications. She is also a passionate community builder who is especially interested in the intersection of for-profit, non-profit and community, believing that by creating new models for partnership, community development needs can be fulfilled while stimulating local economy and supporting sustainable growth. She is the Director of Development for both the Echo Park Time Bank and the California Federation of Time Banks, the President and Creative Director of the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce and is on the Board of Directors for Law Project LA.
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