I am fortunate to know many women in my community of friends whose work I want to celebrate and elevate. That’s really the purpose of this bimonthly newsletter — as well as expressing my opinion from time to time and sharing updates on my own work and priorities.
This week, I am celebrating Kathy Eldon and Creative Visions, and let me start with expressing an opinion: I believe that there are few people who are more universally admired and few who have done more for a global community of creatives and changemakers than Kathy Eldon. Also few who have written more books of inspiration or championed more good causes.
So I’ll start with her latest book whose title matches my admiration for Kathy: “BOUNDLESS.”
I've known Kathy for more than 25 years. We met in the mid-90s when she was seeking support for a documentary about her son, Dan Eldon, a Reuters photojournalist whose life was tragically cut short when a mob attacked his crew in Somalia in 1993. He was only 22 years old.
She and her daughter, Amy, wanted to make a documentary about Dan's life and work, and the work of other courageous journalists who risk their lives to report the news in war zones. At the time, I was president of Turner Original Productions and, with Ted Turner’s support, I commissioned “Dying To Tell the Story.”
Dan Eldon in Mogadishu, Somalia. (Courtesy of Eldon Family)
The two-hour Emmy-nominated documentary, which included Dan's story as well as interviews with other frontline journalists, including Christiane Amanpour and Martin Bell, among others, was broadcast on Turner’s cable channels, and continues to be seen around the world. It is a film that honors the work of these brave truth tellers, who are willing to risk injury and death to tell a story, report the facts, and stand up for the truth.
Following that first documentary and witnessing its impact, especially on young aspiring storytellers, Kathy and her daughter, Amy, started a nonprofit, Creative Visions, to ensure that storytellers they termed “creative activists” had a new source of support. For many years, this thriving Creative Visions community has convened at a beautiful space adjacent to Kathy’s home in Malibu, California.
Over the years, Creative Visions has funded, mentored, and supported storytellers from all over the world, and is responsible for more than 400 projects and productions under its fiscal sponsorship umbrella. The Creative Visions headquarters is also a place for convening and community for activists, artists, political and cultural leaders.
But the recent LA wildfires threatened the end of Creative Visions.
Kathy Eldon interviewed by CNN.
Kathy's house and the Creative Visions headquarters were among the very few buildings in her Malibu neighborhood that survived the fires — in large part thanks to her neighbors who put out small fires that ignited nearby for four days, saving four out of six houses on their street.
But why her house and the Creative Vision headquarters were spared is still somewhat of a miracle… or was it, as Kathy believes, Dan’s spirit protecting them, ensuring that Creative Visions continues its unique programming that provides much needed support for this important work. For it is often the case that the voices and stories that need to be heard the most are also the hardest to fund.
“This building exists to support the storytellers who will tell our world what is going on,” Kathy told CNN. “We need stories that talk about the greed that is driving our planet…We have to tell the stories that move hearts and minds to make different decisions.”
Currently, Creative Visions supports over 400 impact media projects and is equipping hundreds of thousands of youth and educators worldwide with resources and support to drive positive change through storytelling and creative expression, including its powerful programs: #CreateConnectCare, Students Rebuild and their Creative Changemakers Learning Hub.
Kathy speaking at the 2023 Creative Visions Sundowner Series, an annual gathering of members of the Creative Visions community and their Creative Activist Network. (Courtesy of Creative Visions)
As she did during the Covid pandemic-caused isolation, when she created another amazing book, Hope Rising, Kathy turned to writing for inspiration and resilience.
“BOUNDLESS,” written amid evacuation orders, toxic waste threats, and a planet in crisis, offers hope and possibility to all of us.
Kathy’s story — losing her son at age 22, facing health challenges in her family, and the relentless struggle for funding for nonprofits and for creative activism — reminds us all that our greatest breakthroughs often come from our most difficult chapters.
Kathy has poured her wisdom, her insights, and her hard gained experience into creating a courageous guidebook for navigating life’s wild terrain and unexpected turns.
At its heart, it’s a call to spark some good trouble together — to create pockets of love, connection, hope, and creativity when and where the world needs it most. In short, to become a creative activist! If you believe in the power of stories to spark change, as I do, then “BOUNDLESS” is for you.
I can't think of a better time for a book like this! Kathy Eldon is a singularly effective, awesomely energetic and boundless force for good in the world.
In such times as these, we need more Kathy Eldons, more “creative vision,” and certainly more committed “creative activists!”
Onward!
- Pat
