Diversity turns me on. I noticed that years back when I decided to record one of my songs in different languages to celebrate diversity. Hundreds of emails and an infinite number of hours on Skype later, I had recorded that song in 20 languages, including two idioms that were in danger of extinction. After that I wrote a book about diversity. Then, I co-created a photography project alongside Florida based NPO The Humanity Project including non-profit organizations from all seven continents. Yes, Antarctica too. And more recently, I launched a free online tool called the #HelloMahalo Diversity Atlas to promote - you guessed it - diversity.
The #HelloMahalo Diversity Atlas curates and maps initiatives by individuals and organizations that promote diversity around the world – http://www.hellomahalo.haikaa.com . The purpose of the Atlas is to make it easier for anyone interested in diversity to begin their exploration. Another goal is to help those who want to create diversity projects to be inspired, take action and add their own projects. And finally, the Atlas seeks to strengthen the message that all these projects share by combining them into one place. Here’s an explanation video on how to use the Atlas –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg_tcQL2eAA
Come and see the photography project by an International Space Station astronaut. She celebrates diversity by emphasizing our similarities, using Earth as seen from above as her theme. Discover the works of a former fashion industry photographer who celebrates diversity by portraying differences. His photos present people with genetic differences not as seen on science textbooks but more like in a family photo album. Meet a Japanese artist who created a vagina kayak to help women get to know their bodies better. Discover the street artist in Los Angeles who paints beautiful images on walls where the homeless sleep so they can dream. Learn about a women’s collective in Bolivia founded by a Native Indian lesbian feminist activist whose views on humanity speak of inclusion and diversity.
When I first began creating projects to promote diversity, encouragement did not abound. “Diversity isn’t sexy” a music industry exec warned me as he advised me not to publish my multilingual music video. Obviously, I didn’t like the discouragement but I carried on with my vision nevertheless. Years later, I can’t help but wonder what a sad world he must have lived in, the guy who said to me that diversity wasn’t sexy. Honestly, I can’t think of anything more stimulating. By acknowledging diversity, we expose ourselves to the multiple realities lived by each of the inhabitants on this planet. In these different realities, there are lifestyles we have only dreamt of. There are new solutions to old problems. There are different notions of life, love and happiness.
What’s more, diversity is within as it is without. The big questions in life, the ones that really matter, often times require us to seek for answers beyond the world as we know it. What if happiness were to be found in a relationship not with another person but with two other people? What if life required from us not that we be coherent but truthful? In diversity, normal is not a pre-requisite. Life may be honored in whatever way it chooses to present itself to us today. Diversity is definitely the new sexy.
More info: hellomahalo.haikaa.com
Visit the #HelloMahalo Diversity Atlas, get inspired, create your own project
There are over 130 registered projects from across the globe
