Welcome to WO+MEN 4 A CAUSE. Our mission is to build a GLOBAL COMMUNITY where we can empower eachother by becoming informed, educating ourselves, sharing information, and utilizing our knowledge to help those in need. WO+MEN FOR A CAUSE will promote and feature different organizations that cover topics ranging from PEACE, CANCER, THE ENVIRONMENT, to AUTISM, ABUSE, POVERTY, THE HOMELESS, GANGS AND MORE. We are a GROWING COMMUNITY of artists, mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, brothers, sons, survivors...who strive to make a difference through our experiences, our music, art, photography, film and the theatre. We have found a way where we can educate ourselves and share what we've learned, by building a COMMUNITY together to make a difference. Let your voice be heard! "WE ARE CRAYONS IN THE BOX, DIFFERENT COLORS, BUT ALL MADE THE SAME, FOR ONE PURPOSE, TO COLOR THE PICTURE..."-From the song "CRAYONS" by Denise Vasquez
Founder Denise Vasquez says "TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I feel WE ALL have a purpose in this life! As an artist, I truly believe that my gifts as an artist are only part of my purpose and everything I have experienced has led me to become the woman I am today.
Years ago, I worked at "Camp Lee Mar" (in Lackawaxen, PA), a summer camp for children who had Autism, Down Syndrome and more...these children were seen as being "Handicapped" I saw them as my teachers...They taught me soooo much!!! Aside from my mom, these children were my best teachers! I believe that is their purpose...they are here to teach us!!! They taught me patience, appreciation, understanding and I personally believe that many autistic children are borderline genuis...their minds move so quickly, and their hearts are sooo open! They may not speak our language well, but some of the things I saw these children do & create artistically were pretty spectacular...talk about inspiration!!! I myself have had some obstacles in my life and I feel many of the obstacles I have gotten through are also a part of a my purpose. Through my personal experiences, I've gained courage and also the strength I need to help others who now experience the same challenges.
In the past I have volunteered my time to create, produce, host, promote & perform in 10+ hour music festivals (LADIES NIGHT MUSIC FESTIVAL, LADIES IN THE COURTYARD, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY NIGHT, WOMEN WITH A CAUSE...so far 8 successful festivals & more to come). With the help of my sponsors and fellow Artists with a cause, our community helped bring awareness to organizations like THE RED CROSS, OVARIANCANCER.ORG, GREENPEACE, HEPC, THE WISH & more. I also wrote a One AcT play which was presented, and received rave reviews at "The St. John School Of The Arts" called "SISTERHOOD" which is about female gangs. If you are an artist interested in performing, a sponsor interested in being a part of an event, a venue interested in hosting an event, an organization who needs to be recognized, message me. If you are someone who wants to be the change, please send us a friends request & help spread the word about the cause.
What inspired me to create these events??? Without going to deeply into everything right now...I'm thinking about writing a book- My Life...Art and Music, being a strong woman, and having a strong foundation around me, saved my life, my entire life, leading me to where I am today! i left home at 17 years of age and have been working and traveling since! I lived in Scotland, London, New York City, The Virgin Islands and now Los Angeles. I've always been really good at acting, dancing, singing, playing music, casting, producing & promoting and always enjoyed working behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera... When I moved to The Virgin Islands, amongst many things lacking in paradise, I noticed the lack of female performers on the music scene, and there were too many amazing female performers not being given the chance to showcase their talents. I also noticed a lack of support with certain schools, and lack of awareness for people in need. I came up with an idea that would help bring awareness, that would showcase great unknown talent, and a way to donate proceeds to help those in need, and bring the community together. It took some convincing, but I managed to convince my boss at the time to loan me his bar/restaurant which is on the beach for the night as an audition to my idea & I guaranteed he would not regret it...
The first event took me a few of months to plan as I was volunteering my time and was doing everything on my own. With careful planning, For This first event I organized 6 hours straight of music. I went around and found businesses to sponsor the event, found an amazing sound man, equipment, I invited talented female artists who I heard jamming at parties and I searched for one unknown artist, someone that no one had any idea that she was a performer & I found her...the first unknown I am so happy I discovered to date, her name is Rebecca...she is one of the most mesmerizing voices I've ever heard!!! She was terrified, but I held her hand and had her close her eyes, and as soon as she opened her mouth, the angel sang & WOW!!!! The entire event went off really well, people wanted more, it was praised by the press & so I was asked to do another one.
The next event I decided to bring awareness to a different cause, and I featured more unknown female artists that now came to me from different islands waiting to be discovered. With more artists on the bill, the event grew to 10 hours. It was amazing to watch the event grow...PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER...All ages, all races, men & women, from many islands listening from their boats, camping out on the beach, hanging out in the trees, just to experience the music, the love, purpose, COMMUNITY...I can't even find the words to describe the energy, but the second event drew hundreds of people & it was unlike anything anyone on that small 9 mile long, 2 mile wide island had ever seen! Not to mention I was organizing these events on my own...I was part of something way bigger than me!
Due to the fact that the event was growing each time we had one, I had to move locations after the third on the Beach. I began moving the event to different locations each time we had one which helped the businesses as well! By the time I left the islands, I had organized 6 very successful "Ladies Night Music Festivals". When I moved to Los Angeles, I organized a Social Butterfly Night to see what it would be like here. I was immediately inspired having artists like Cassie Burns, Kat Lague & Sarah Cloud on the bill!!! I organized another event called "WOMEN WITH A CAUSE" on a larger scale- 26 musical artists, 10 comedians, 10+ hours...artists, sponsors, music, laughter, for a cause...it was amazing!!! So now that calling flows through me once again & I'm preparing for 2008!"
************************************************************ *************** SEE BLOG TO READ FEMMUSE.COM REVIEW about the WOMEN WITH A CAUSE FESTIVAL held in Los Angeles in 2004
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