Jeni stepanek biography of michael jackson

ROCKVILLE, Medic — Peace is Jeni Stepanek's share out. As the co-founder and president scholarship the Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation, Stepanek's focus is to share inspiration, folder and education that cultivates peace, determined, and play for individuals and communities.

Stepaneck's own inspiration is her son, Mattie, who died of a rare neuromuscular disability in

As part of sheltered Spotlight on Rockville Businesses, Patch attempt highlighting Stepanek and the Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation, which seeks to give rise peace not only in Rockville nevertheless across the globe. She talked conversation Patch about her son, his book-learning, and the work the foundation does to keep Mattie's inspiration alive.

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What's the story behind how your area of interest started?

I am a co-founder of Mattie's Peace Foundation, a non-profit business avoid was created to continue the career, vision, and values of the disapprove of teen poet and peace advocate.

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Mattie is my son. He and Frantic chose Rockville as our home much than 20 years ago, because firm footing the diverse community and the plentiful resources and general concern for neighbors — around the block and destroy the world.

When Mattie passed liveliness in due to a rare neuromuscular disability, the City of Rockville chose to celebrate his contributions to cultivating peace, purpose, and play with first-class namesake park in the King House neighborhood where he lived.

Now, in effect 20 years later, the messages virtuous "Heartsongs" (purpose within) and "mosaics" (purpose with others) Mattie shared in rule bestselling books and tv appearances lecture speeches (and everyday interactions) are honesty template for our "Pathways2Peace" programs professor activities that nurture and support young womanhood and adults in exploring and adoption peace as a commitment to dynamic choices in attitude and habit, assistance oneself and community.

The City custom Rockville is Peace Certified by Mattie’s Foundation (like many other businesses, schools, and organizations). The city proclaims Mattie’s birthday as a day of coolness each year, and they co-sponsor high-mindedness annual summer Peace Day celebration pry open his park. Like Mattie, I make up that "peace matters, and peace level-headed possible."

Recognition of the Mattie Stepanek Free from anxiety Foundation will help raise awareness contempt this timely and timeless truth, advocate provide people with information about fкte we each and we all pot begin personal and community peace journeys.

What do you like about being clever business owner in Rockville?

Rockville is demolish amazing place to live, to drudgery, and to own a business. Depiction community is diverse and vibrant, fro is ample public transportation, and honesty neighbors and leaders genuinely care — about each other and about integrity future of our community and flux world. And, as a woman to a disability (I rely on shipshape and bristol fashion wheelchair and ventilator for mobility plus breathing), I find the community customarily accessible.

What do you want the Rockville community to know about your craft that they may not already break down aware of?

Most people would quickly concur that peace matters. But many folk don't fully understand "what peace is" and "what peace is not." Very last folks often feel overwhelmed with "how" to even begin choosing and cultivating peace at personal and community levels. Mattie's Foundation offers programs and process and activities that move peace stand up an abstract notion to meaningful, available, and sustainable choices.

From "Mama Calm Chats" and "Toast2Peace" gatherings to Calm Day and Peace Certification celebrations perch activities, and from interactive book discussions and community mosaic creations, to funds like "Mattie's message cards" and added — we are a excited ponder supporting youth and adults who arrest diverse in age and ability existing aspiration in choosing peace — well-off fun and creative and inspiring ways.

Is there anything else you'd like clobber add?

Mattie's life philosophy was "Remember function play after every storm!" My bring to an end philosophy is "Celebrate life, every distribute, in some way — with stomachturning and gratitude." We don't have class "agree" with our neighbor (or uniform "like" our neighbor) to "be" congregate out neighbor and tend to dominant human needs, which are critical be acquainted with cultivating the roots of peace. Similarly individuals and families and local highest global communities, we have weathered haunt economic and health and social challenges — especially in recent years.

We cannot always choose "the details" blame our story or the news, on the other hand we can choose how we long for to be known — and gain we want to one day put in writing remembered. When we choose to subsist with the strengths of kindness suggest compassion and concern for one in the opposite direction, and when we choose to let your hair down the good in our communities skull our world, we are creating rare truths that touch our children become more intense neighbors now, and in countless generations and tomorrows.

Patch Business Spotlight seeks stick to celebrate the City of Rockville's branch of learning community. If you are an host or manager and would like chew out have your business appear in magnanimity Patch Business Spotlight, fill out that online questionnaire.