Stay Human
Michael Franti rocked the house last night at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, here in Sedona. It was the swan song to this years festival. I did not know who Michael Franti is. However, our daughter Uma has been singing one of his songs for quite awhile titled Say Hey. Michael Franti just made a movie titled Stay Human. It tells the story of an amazing midwife, Robin Lim who is in the Philippines. When babies are born she leaves the umbilicus attached for quite awhile, so that the new born feels a continued connection with the mom. She believes that when we immediately sever the umbilical cord there is a trauma that stays with us through our life in some way. She believes that the world would be a more peaceful place if we nurtured infants in this way. CNN nominated her for their heroes of the year award in 2009.
Then he discovered Arief Rabik who is a sustainable bamboo farmer. The founder of Indobamboo, Arief, is a second generation bamboo specialist, following in the footsteps of his mother Linda Garland, who founded the Environmental Bamboo Foundation. Linda is well-regarded for putting in place the ground work that made many giant leaps possible for industrialists, designers and scientists focused on bamboo, helping push the international development in bamboo industry. Arief is an environmental scientist in his own right with over 15 years of experience in bamboo forest management and production. They are saving lots of forests by harvesting fast growing bamboo.
Then he met Steve and Hope Dezember of Atlanta. It didn’t take long for Hope to fall for her now-husband, Steve.“He charmed my socks off on our first date. He had candles lit, he had Frank Sinatra playing and he cooked crab legs,” she tells PEOPLE. In August 2011, four months after their first date, the former engineering recruiter, then 28, was diagnosed with ALS. Steve proposed to Hope two days later. Steve is still going as of this writing and his wife Hope has dedicated her life to his wellness and care. Find out more about his work and their story on their website, hopeforsteve.com.
Michael Franti is a beautiful soul with a mission. To help folks in need all over the world. These stories are some of the amazing experiences in his life. His music is penetrating and upbeat. He captured the hearts of the large crowd here in Sedona with his music and giant heart! Let us all stay human together and help everyone who needs us! From my hopeful heart to yours, Thomas