Interfaith Cooperation
What I admire about the work of IFYC is how inclusive it is, without asking for participants to water down their beliefs in order to get along. Their mission – making interfaith cooperation a social norm – requires that participants bring everything about who they are to the table, rather than leave those parts that [...]
Manifesto for Change
In September, I was privileged to witness and film the Entrepreneurs’ Organization gathering in Amsterdam. The energy and optimism in the hallways, and from speakers such as Kofi Annan, Slava Rubin, and Dr. Muhammad Yunus stands in contrast to much of what we hear today. The world is not just falling apart. There are people [...]
Introducing Maura
A metropolis of 30,000. Rolling hills, uninhabited – beautiful, but desolate. Skirt suits. If you had asked me exactly a year ago where I would be on October 7, 2011, I would have painted the description above. Upon entering my senior year of college, I thought I was destined to put my journalism degree to [...]
Changemakers in Film: Tiffany Shlain
As an artist and thinker, Tiffany holds a number of tensions. She is director of The Moxie Institute, an organization that creates films, discussion programs, theater experiences, and Internet experiments around social issues using emerging technologies. At the same time, her new film, Connected, highlights the possibilities of [...]
Don’t ask, don’t tell? Yeah, right.
The “I am the Water, You are the Sea” Facebook page received an interesting post this week, containing a link accompanied by the following comment: “Why do we need to know that they are “lovers” [referring to Alex and Ali]? Couldn’t we just be very happy for such good friends to be reunited?” The link [...]
The Sound of Two Souls
I spent an incredible time in Portland with Alex this past weekend. It was his first time back since his 8-week Peace Corps training in the summer of 1967. During the weekend, he connected with 100’s of other Peace Corps volunteers who had served in Iran in the 60’s and 70’s, some of whom he’d [...]
“As Big as they Come”
Alex jumped at the opportunity to talk about Ali’s heart, and the sacrifices he has made for people he loves. We would love some footage of the two of them together! But that’s not going to happen until the filming begins. Please help us reunite this couple and tell their story.
Changemakers in Film: Maryam Keshavarz
Maryam Keshavarz’ first feature film, Circumstance, was the Audience Award winner at Sundance this year. A synopsis from the film: Teenagers Atafeh, and her best friend, Shireen, are experimenting with their burgeoning sexuality amidst the subculture of Tehran’s underground art scene when Atafeh’s brother, Mehran, returns home from drug rehab as the prodigal son. Battling [...]
Immigration Equality
There are three significant obstacles that are preventing Alex and Ali from living together as a couple: 1) Alex could get a visa to travel to Iran, but be in danger of being arrested, tortured, or even executed as homosexuality is against the law. 2) Getting Ali out of Iran is problematic, as Iran is [...]
Thank You to (and from) Donors
We are 1/3 of the way through our Kickstarter campaign, and continue to be energized at how people are responding to the story of Alex and Ali. In addition to pledging money, individuals and organizations have contacted us and offered to help. We are grateful. Here are some notes from those who have pledged . [...]
