Has been touring her one-woman show, SPIRIT AWAKENING, for over four years. From the process she used to tell her own story, she created a writing workshop that she has shared with hundreds of at-risk youth.  Presently, she and the facilitators of the Spirit Awakening Foundation teach these workshops in various juvenile detention centers in Califormia.  This work enables the youth to express themselves in a creative and empowering way. 

The Spirit Awakening programs are designed to reawaken the innate spiritual nature of the individual and inspire a self respect and care of the soul; foster better understanding among different racial and cultural groups; reduce negative and destructive attitudes and behavior in order to prepare and support young people in finding more fulfilling and purposeful life choices for themselves and our world; increase academic performance by enhancing reading, writing and communicative skills of children and young adults. 
 

Debbie began ministering to individuals living on the street many years ago, becoming the director of Hand to Hand in 1997.  Inspired by the love and sincerity of the homeless, as well as those who step forward to support her, Debbie's intention is to support the homeless in whatever way Spirit shows up.  This has included contributions of extra food, supplies and money to other food programs such as CHPHP (Children Helping Poor and Homeless People) and HOPE (Helping Other People Eat). She is also a five year cornerstone member of Side by Side, an organization that works with homed and homeless people working for positive solutions.  Debbie also supports the homeless community through distribution of Making Change newspaper created by and for the homeless to provide an income and a voice for the homeless community. 

As Debbie walks the line of 100 to 200 people on Saturday morning and greets each one with love and openness she is a true revelation of God's Love in Action.  Despite circumstance and perception, Debbie is an opening for nonviolence in the community, bringing a light of peace to unrest and uncertainty.  Setting aside all worldly concerns for the moment, Debbie is the example of simply being here for God. 
 

As director of this non-profit environmental education group, Jim has pioneered gardening programs that have made an important difference in the lives of many young people. 

The Peace Garden Outreach Program takes at-risk inner city youth from different cultures, ages, races, neighborhoods and backgrounds and creates a peaceful and inspiring way to resolve conflict, raise self-esteem and instill pride in a learning environment.  The Program provides a safe, educational, fun, creative and peaceful haven for 30-70 preteens, teens, kids, adults, teachers, parents, grandparents and administrators each Saturday from 9 AM until 2 PM at the 99th St. Elementary School, Watts, CA - 2 blocks West of Central on Century Blvd. 
 

Devoted to promoting her heritage, she started the Black History Society of Santa Monica in 1997. 

Some of her honors in the past 50 years include awards for: 

• Creative Programming Senior Citizen Nutrition and Recreation
• Program Commendation from the City of L.A. for saving a policeman's life

Pico Neighborhood Association Community Service 
• 1st Annual Community Union Award from the League of United Latin Americans Olive Branch Award for Community Peace from the Alliance for a Nonviolent Community
• Commendation for the Santa Monica Mayor's Office
• Commendation from the L. A. District Attorney's office for law enforcement

Has served as Imam (spiritual leader of the Islamic Faith) in many different cities in the U.S. (Tuskagee, AL; Gary, IN; Durham and Chapel Hill, N. C.; Oakland, Lompoc and Los Angeles, CA) 

Lectures regularly and holds seminars at Jr. colleges, Universities and prisons across the U.S. and Canada. 

Started working at the Federal Correctional Institute at Terminal Is. in the fall of 1989, became the senior Chaplain. 

Out of over 195 chaplains of various faith traditions in the bureau, he was selected Chaplain of the Year. 

B. T. Taylor (Freedom Light Ministry) nominated Chaplain Abdul for this award. He says that the chaplain is considered to have made a significant difference in the quest for peace and harmony in the prison system.  He is often brought to other prisons to prevent violence and bloodshed. 

Committed to conflict resolution and the principles of nonviolence in his work, he often utilizes religious leaders of different faiths in the community to help implement programs at Terminal Island prison. 
 

Mary and Eric Lloyd Wright have been long known for their gentle, but deep commitment to their community and their world.  Eric is known for the excellence with which he carries on his family's tradition of magnificent architecture that blends into and enhances the earth rather than destroying it; and Mary continues to bless the world with beauty - not only through her art and through teaching it - but through her very being.  Together they 
steward their amazing land to make it available to groups, individuals and inner city youth, to reconnect us to each other and the earth and our responsibility to it.  They teach Native American wisdom through their sweat lodge and medicine wheel ceremonies where people of all colors, religions, ages and socio-economic backgrounds can come together in peace and healing. 

What makes Mary and Eric stand out is how much both of them contribute in time, support, encouragement, consultation and resources to empowering many other groups and organizations in their work - educational, spiritual, peace, environmental, art, men's, women's and youth organizations.  They have risked imprisonment with their nonviolent demonstrations for the 
Ballona Wetlands, the U'wa Indians and have supported other organizations too numerous to mention. 

They are creative, courageous, selfless, tireless champions of service.  It is impossible to know Mary and Eric Lloyd Wright without experiencing their unspoken invitation to a higher, deeper, more meaningful, joyous, and utterly nonviolent participation in life. 
 
 

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last changed March 17, 1999