The Opportunity Project

Birthed from a spirit of Philanthropy, Open Heart Publishing works hand in hand with youth organizations to instruct future generations about the positive changes they can make in the world around them, as well as the limitless opportunity their lives will offer them, so long as they are willing to look for those opportunities.  Through the crafts of writing, art, editing, marketing, and publishing, these groups create a book the children can then sell.  100% of the profits benefit a charity of the children’s choosing.

This year’s project is entitled “The Cave of Colors,” and it was produced by the Junior Church kids of the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas.

Working with such amazingly free creative minds is a journey into patience and anticipation. It is fraught with pleasure and an extra helping of graying hair while all the while it is wrapped up in a package of sheer wonder and amazement.

I would love to tell you that these little people heard the idea of creating a book and every last one of them latched on to the idea as if it were the greatest idea they ever heard in their life. However I was dealing with 6 – 9 year olds who found that their schedule was far more important than my own agenda even if that included talking to imaginary hippopotami , writing on the E-Z wipe whiteboard with permanent markers, or wandering the halls in order to test my authority.

Thankfully I had the assistance of other adults in child wrangling maneuvers, and once the idea sunk in to what we were doing together the story they had to tell began to unfold.

It began slowly appearing among their group creative exercizes and by their 5^th lesson, We had a concept, a mutual idea that solidified all of their individual voices into an amazing journey of wonder that far too often we as adults can forget or make far too complex. The vision came together through one young girl in words, and another young boy in artistic vision. Together they began weaving the story, as other children became more regular in their attendance, they too added to the amazing tapestry that is “The Cave of Colors”.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the parents that volunteered their time in order to help with this project, Lisa Umbarger and Jennifer Mayes for the volunteering of their time and musical skills, Joe Tinker for his voice acting skills, Jennifer (Purple Jen) Wannamaker for her artistic talent, Kelly Jacobi for astounding creative design assistance, Dorayne Breedlove for her approval of this project within the YFM program of CSL Dallas, and Rev Dr. Petra Weldes for her guided meditations that accompany this Book album created by the Kids of her church.

This has been a labor of love, and not just for the love of the message these wonderful people had to share with the world but a love they share with one another. It has been a pleasure working with you and I look forward to the next journey the Opportunity Project brings to my door.

With the vision of “Giving a Voice to our Future, Today” the Opportunity Project creates opportunity for new voices to be heard, and it is a pleasure to bring their stories to you.

With gratitude,

Debrin Case

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