Interview: Carie Lemack On The 10th Anniversary Of 9/11 And Ending Terrorism

By Stacey Gualandi

Facebook: globalsurvivorsnetwork
Twitter: globalsurvivors

It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since 9/11. I remember a panicked phone call I received that morning from my office. I went to work (for Inside Edition) and covered the events that unfolded, never fully comprehending what had taken place or how the country would move forward from such tragedy.

“My life’s mission is to live a life that my mom would be proud of.  And that’s what I try to do everyday.”  Carie Lemack

Now as we approach the tenth anniversary, we meet Carie Lemack, one woman who never stopped working tirelessly on behalf of survivors of terrorism and their families.

Her mother, Judy Larocque, was on American Airlines Flight 11 that tragic day.  Carie’s devastating loss took her on an unprecedented journey to make sure no one else suffers as she has.

Carie visits London school to warn against extremism/2009

In 2009 she formed Global Survivors Network, an organization that helps people directly affected by terrorism to reach out across the globe in hopes of preventing future terror acts. Their first documentary short, “Killing in the Name,” received an Oscar® nomination last year. The film will be making its television debut on HBO this Fall.

UPDATE 9/9/11–“Killing in the Name” about one person’s mission to expose the true cost of terrorism debuts Sept. 14, exclusively on HBO2.  It can be seen there on other playdates during September.

On the eve of the 10^th anniversary, Carie spoke candidly to me about her loss, her work, and the new face of terrorism…

Interview: Maman Marie Nzoli, A Congolese Unsung Hero

By Amy Ernst, Contributing Writer and Photographer/Congo

Amy’s Blog

I arrived in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo in April, 2010 from Chicago.  I was introduced to Maman Marie Nzoli through a local Catholic priest who knew of my desire to help survivors of sexual violence.  I work alongside COPERMA, the NGO that Maman founded in 1983, raising funds, doing identification of new survivors of rape, and helping arrange medical and psychosocial support for all victims of the war.

“I want so badly for the violence against women to stop.”  Maman Marie

The work I do is miniscule compared to that of Maman Marie and the loyal COPERMA team.  She has established 12 centers that have assisted thousands of men, women, and children over the years around Butembo.

Maman handing out food

Even though they often aren’t paid, Maman Marie and her team work tirelessly, never turning down anyone with need nor hesitating to go into a dangerous situation.  They’ve subsisted mostly on selling potatoes cultivated by beneficiaries of COPERMA.

She’s an unsung hero and an endless inspiration to me.  Here is what she told me recently in her small concrete office in Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo…

Interview: Maryam Bibi Fights To Empower Women In Dangerous Northwest Pakistan

By Farzana Ali, guest blogger in Peshawar, Pakistan

Website:  hotfrontiers.net

I was just a student in 1996 when I heard about Maryam Bibi’s activities in the press. Her mission as founder of Khwendo Kor, meaning “Sisters’ Home” and the threats she was receiving were known throughout Pakistan.  Most of her community centers for women were under attack and her colleagues under fire.

“The vast majority of tribal females are still deprived of the basic rights of education, health, and clean drinking water.”

After 9/11 when I was a working journalist, Maryam BiBi was considered on the side of the U.S. against Muslims during the war on terror. Then I had a chance to meet her, talk to her and watch her leading the womenfolk during the rule of the six religious parties-based alliance MMA.

Maryam protesting for peace/2010

This self-made woman from Waziristan had no family, society, government or community support in the beginning, but now the world supports her. She has an important story to tell, and I found myself the best listener and transmitter for this iron lady of the region…

Interview: Lee Woodruff On Family, Her Foundation And Flannel PJ’s

By Stacey Gualandi

Twitter:  @LeeMWoodruff
Facebook:  Perfectly Imperfect

UPDATE: 2/1/12:  Lee’s blog reports that she’s just finished the manuscript of her first book, “Those We Love,” which will be out 9/11/12

UPDATE 1/9/12:  Lee Woodruff joins ‘CBS This Morning‘

Author Lee Woodruff  knows what it means to overcome adversity.   Five years ago, her husband ABC anchor Bob Woodruff,  suffered a near-fatal brain injury from a roadside bomb while reporting from Iraq.  It has been a long, yet successful road to recovery.  And in the process, she has become a voice for brain-injured soldiers returning from war.

“Things happen in life and we need to reach out and seek help.”  Lee Woodruff

Lee and her husband wrote In An Instant, an instant bestseller about healing from such a horrible event.   They formed the Bob Woodruff Foundation to help raise awareness, money, and assistance to those troops in recovery.

In her follow-up book, Perfectly Imperfect, A Life In Progress,  she humorously tackled the subject of everyday challenges.  Lee also speaks tirelessly to people all over the country.   This Good Morning America correspondent will be one of the hosts at  the More Magazine Reinvention Convention in Los Angeles on Monday.

I have recently had to “reinvent” myself, so I was very interested in talking with Lee about how to move forward, how to find inner strength, and how to embrace flannel nightgowns.  I’ll explain…

Interview: Nancy Santullo’s Crusade For Clean Water In The Amazon Rainforest

By Stacey Gualandi

Twitter: @rainforestflow
Facebook:  rainforest-flow

Nancy Santullo calls the Peruvian rainforest her home.  As the founder of Rainforest Flow: A House of the Children Project, she has gone deep into the Manu rainforest to bring clean, healthy water to the indigenous people who live there.

  “Our lives are interconnected…as we help one child, we help all children.”   Nancy Santullo

In 2000, this former fashion photographer embarked on a journey that she says not only transformed her life, but also the children who can now drink safely.  Within eight years, Nancy says her organization served approximately 450 adults and children in remote areas of the rainforest. 

Rainforest Flow has successfully brought clean water and reduced diseases in two remote villages, and she is about to return to help yet another one.

With the chidren of Huacaria, Peru/2009

Nancy puts her life in danger for up to nine months at a time.  To reach these villages takes several days – by plane, by jeep, by boat – with snakes, mosquitoes, and disease always posing a threat. 

The rainforest is the last place I would think of for a life-altering career change, so I wanted to see why Nancy won’t stop until there’s enough drinkable water for all the tribes of the rainforest… 

Interview: Rebecca Welsh On HALO–Her Vision To Help Art Liberate Orphans

Rebecca with children in Uganda

By Stacey Gualandi

“What has happened in Japan is absolutely devastating.  It reminds me of the 2004 tsunami that dramatically rose the number of orphans where we work in India.  At that time we had to quickly make space for children in need of shelter and love…Just one child losing their parents to something like this is an absolute tragedy.”—Rebecca

Rebecca Welsh knows first-hand the overwhelming desperation following a destructive tsumani.  Seven years ago, she created The HALO Foundation–Helping Art Liberate Orphans.  A HALO-supported orphanage in India provided a home for children left parentless after the 2004 tsunami.

This 31-year-old former Taekwondo World Champion is a guardian angel for many young people.   HALO continues to offer support and hope worldwide through determination, donations, and drawings!

The artwork these young boys and girls create has sold at auctions and in turn helps to fund food, shelter, education, water, and the clothes on their back.  HALO now operates in six countries, supporting 11 orphanages and counting.

Photo: Morgan Miller

A mutual friend recently introduced me to Rebecca while she was exploring a possible expansion to the West Coast.  And considering I am a student of tae-bo (taikwondo-light),  I was very interested to see how a world champion in martial arts became a champion for young children in need…

Tsunami Survivor Petra Nemcova Rebuilds Young Lives With Happy Hearts

These photos at the nationalpost.com of the devastation in Japan from the tsunami remind us of the unforgettable destruction of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004. 

The number of casualties from that disaster was staggering.  We could not fathom that it could kill 230,000 people in 12 nations and displace more than 1.4 million.

One person was touched by it in a most horrific way.  Model Petra Nemcova, vacationing in Thailand at the time, was almost swept away by the overpowering current but managed to keep her head above water.  Her fiance, photographer Simon Atlee, disappeared into the raging waters. 

Here she describes how she survived by holding onto a tree for 8 hours…

Petra ended up with a broken pelvis and internal injuries as well as the traumatic loss of her loved one.  But out of this tragedy came an idea for a way to help those with little hope and great need. 

Interview: Marsha Wallace On How Dining For Women Wants to Feed the World

While meditating in 2002, Marsha Wallace had a vision: “What if every month you meet with your gal pals, you take the money that you would normally spend at a bar or restaurant, and then donate that money to help poverty-stricken women and girls half way around the world?”

“I do believe if you ask you will receive.  We’re best when we’re living with purpose.”   Marsha Wallace

Sounds like a simple concept right?  Well, that inspired idea became DINING FOR WOMEN, Marsha’s organization that now boasts over 200 chapters in the U.S. and in three countries, and has raised over $946,000 for 48 charities in developing nations.

Atlanta Dining for Women Chapter

EYE Contributor Stacey Gualandi confesses cooking is not her thing, but dining out with friends is.  And she was looking for a fun way to make a difference.   So she connected in more ways than one when she spoke to Marsha.  

Her passion, enthusiasm, and initiative was so compelling, Stacey will be starting the first DFW chapter in Hollywood, CA, in February… 

Interview: Ruthie Rosenberg On How The Katonah Book Club Is Empowering Girls In India

When Ruthie Rosenberg joined her local book club four years ago in the small town of Katonah, NY,  she never envisioned that reading a book would catapult her into a worldwide cause to save female victims of human trafficking .

But a committed club of six have joined forces with Apne Aap Women Worldwide to empower and educate young girls in Bihar, India, and put an end to sex slavery.

It all began when this married mother of two made a bold book choice, the moving and emotional Half the Sky by the Pulitzer Prize- winning authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

“These are stories of courageous people with incredible determination to flourish under horrendous  conditions. They are both disturbing and inspiring.”     Ruthie Rosenberg

Stacey Gualandi was so impressed with the Katonah Book Club’s call to action that she contacted Ruthie to find out why they reached out to a hostel half a world away and how we, too, could help her hold up half the sky… 

Interview: Siena Anstis On The Growing “Women Of Kireka” Jewelry Business

Siena Anstis, pictured above on Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda,  began the “Women of Kireka” jewelry-making project in 2008 in Kireka near Kampala.  Women with a talent for beading were working in the stone quarry there under arduous conditions.  They had fled from the northern part of Uganda during a brutal war where their husbands were killed and children abducted.

A strong believer in human rights’ advocacy, Siena joined with Project Diaspora to help 20 women from Kireka turn their beading talents into a profit-making venture through the power of social media and the internet.

Photos on this blog were taken by Siena and Kim Bilmer.

“These women faced almost insurmountable obstacles but they have a tremendous ability to adapt.  They are the voice of this business and are making it all possible.”  Siena Anstis

Social media in the name of Twitter led me to Siena.  I read a tweet by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof where he wrote he’d bought all his Christmas presents early from the “Women of Kireka.”   So I got to wondering just who and where these creative people were.  And that search led me to my conversation with Siena in Montreal…