Here On Earth started during the dark days of lockdown in the fall of 2020. Longing to feel more hopeful and make connections with friends far away, a group of filmmakers and educators from three different countries organized an online international film class providing media skills with a focus on water and cross-cultural collaboration to teenagers in Taiwan, London and New York City. We also created an interactive website in partnership with The Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University to showcase the student artists’ work and to allow visitors to the site a chance to continue the meaningful conversation. For HereOnEarth.world we are taking all that we have built and synthesizing it into this online space.
We hope this artwork continues to grow.
The University for Life and Peace is a higher learning institute designated for the wellbeing of Earth and its inhabitants. This institute endeavors to bring awareness to the entity of interdependence — interdependent diversity. To take that belief into practicality, academic programs will aim at sustainability and the restoration of a healthy planet. The University for Life and Peace is interfaith and international. Master Hsin Tao envisions this as a platform to inspire collaborations among people who share the same concern for Earth and world peace.
Welcome to Chan Space New York, our first Peace Meditation center in the heart of Manhattan. The house offers a multifunctional ground floor space with classes and events, as well as a beautiful Meditation Room. Learn about Peace Meditation and Buddhism. Chan meditation teaches us to listen to silence and to learn how to stabilize our heart so that we can see our true self in the tranquility. Chan Space New York is a part of Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University, home to the award-winning Traveling Stanzas project, is one of the premier university poetry centers in the country. It is a national leader for the range, quality, and innovative outreach in the community. The mission of Traveling Stanzas is to bring poetry to everyday lives by fostering meaningful conversations and encouraging new voices. The program offers people moments of pause to slow down and reflect on their lives, their communities, and to participate in a shared creative experience.
The Young Voice empowerment program of Fubon Cultural and Educational Foundation is designed to encourage youths to express themselves through film-making and media literacy. The program is implemented in a way that integrates online platforms with various real-life events. The “Young Voice Award” encourages teenagers to express themselves through photography, film and creative writing. The “Rolling Film School” program aims to facilitate a more diverse film appreciation experience by providing media literacy workshops to teachers and high-school age students. Young Voice also collaborated with Taiwan Film institute, important film festivals, and movie theaters to bring more resources for its participants.
Magic Box Productions (MBP) serves K-12 students in New York's most underserved public schools. MBP's focus on young learners, English Language Learners, recent immigrant youth, and students with special needs is a unique contribution to the city's media arts education. Now in its second decade, Magic Box has served over 20,000 students, teachers and parents. By supporting the advancement of creative, collaborative, and technical skills, MBP prepares young people to navigate the world with curiosity and a critical lens.