Coexist: Bridging the divide between us and them.

Hi this is Adam Mazo, Director of Coexist. Thanks for visiting our page. Right now Coexist is fueling the growing global campaign to address bullying and create a more inclusive environment in classrooms and communities everywhere. It has never been more urgent to seek solutions to create culture of peace instead of relying on violence.

After the Newtown massacre social activist and multimedia producer Lina Srivastava responds to calls for gun-control, school security, mental health care changes in a way that speaks to me:

"what we didn’t ask is how we proactively design a world that allows us all the chance to live in safety, and supports a shared goal of opportunity and care for all. We keep searching for point solutions. We weigh one factor against another in the hopes one solved factor will solve the whole. But societal issues are complex and systemic and intertwine with each other. Answers can never be either/or. We need to start designing our culture such that holistic sets of solutions, policies, and customs take hold, and hold us to a new, 21st century (and beyond) social contract between the individual and the collective. How do we do this? One essential way is through story: The only way to truly comprehend the human costs of policy frameworks and cultural constructs is to listen to and exchange stories. The humanitarian and emotional perspectives are often more persuasive than only the rational ones when we are creating livable societies. To build a culture of possibility, we have to build both a movement and an ethical framework grounded in multiple narrative from multiple voices, and fostered by co-creation networks that act for the good of the collective and the protection of the individual."

Coexist is contributing right now to the creation of that culture of possibility that Lina writes about. Please accept our thanks for your donation so Coexist can better serve the growing global campaign to battle violence with weapons of love and peace. Also a generous friend of Coexist will match every dollar donated up to $20,000!

Our 40-minute film and 4-lesson Teacher's Guide are currently in the hands of more than 3,000 educators in 50 states and a dozen countries around the world. To help educators get the most out of these resources, we will provide more Coexist Teacher Professional Development workshops.

As Connecticut Teacher of the Year David Bosso said: “Coexist is a thought-provoking and compelling film that resonates profoundly with anyone who views it.  It underscores the sheer complexity of the Rwandan genocide and subsequent efforts at reconciliation, and provides a deeper examination of hatred and forgiveness.  Significantly, it serves as a metaphor of so many other events and attitudes that have the capacity to devolve into extremes if not adequately addressed and rectified.  Coexist allows students, educators, and others to critically and thoroughly analyze these important and complicated issues."

We are asking for your help to make a contribution today (click the bright pink "CONTRIBUTE NOW" button on upper the right side of this page)in support of our award-winning documentary film Coexist so we can broadcast it on public television across the country. Your support right now is vital. If we do not reach our goal by February 3^rd all pledges to this campaign will be returned. With your help we will spread our message about the perils of othering and scapegoating to a vast new audience, but we are running out of time.

What will my donation do?

#1 Guarantee that Coexist will screen for a potential audience of more than ONE HUNDRED MILLION households via American Public Television (APT) and public television stations.

#2 Pay for essential administrative, technical, legal, and creative costs required by APT including:

• Editing a never-before seen 56-minute version of Coexist

• Closed Captioning

• Output to tape

• Hiring a presenting station to guide us through this process

Will you please donate today? (click the bright pink "CONTRIBUTE NOW" button on upper the right side of this page, internet explore 8 users you can click here to CONTRIBUTE NOW!)

• Meet our team: coexistdocumentary.org/team

• Our work with 3,000+ educators: coexistdocumentary.org/education

• News about Coexist: Springfield Republican, WBZ-TV (CBS Boston),Arlington Advocate, Independent Florida Alligator, and This Little Parent Came Home (link will download podcast)

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Tell everyone you know about our campaign and why it's important to you!

TWITTER: #WeCoexist @coexistdoc, @AdamMMazo FACEBOOK: (faceboook.com/peacedocumentary).

Will you please make your pledge today? (click the bright pink "CONTRIBUTE NOW" button on upper the right side of this page)