Why can’t people act as
if they don’t have eyes?
Then people couldn’t see
disabilities.
You
could not see the color of someone’s
skin.
You could not see someone drooling.
You could not see someone shaking.
You could not see incontinent
bags.
You could not see facial disfigurements.
You could not see how much a
person weighs.
Then we could
see the world as yellow as the
sun and as green as the grass.
Come see the world as I try
to do.
You could not see someone’s
wrinkles.
You could not see someone’s
hair color.
You could not see someone’s
missing teeth.
You could not see someone’s
missing limb.
Then we can see the world as
yellow as the sun and as green
as the grass.
Come see the world as I do.
-
Monique Harris
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Simon
Illa
Writing music since the age
of thirteen, Simon Illa has
been steadily gaining momentum
within the music industry.
After moving
his production company (Unbreakable
Music Group, LLC.) to the east
coast in 2001, Simon's |
incredibly diverse
production skills brought
him to the forefront of the
independent music scene. After
moving his production company
(Unbreakable Music Group, LLC.)
to the east coast in 2001, Simon's
incredibly diverse production
skills brought him to the forefront
of the independent music scene.
Legendary producers/writers
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff briefly
took Simon under their wings
to develop several artists and
from that point, Simon's reputation
for producing music within numerous
genres began to grow. Producing
everything from Pop to Rap and
Gospel to Rock (and everything
in between) Simon earned an
East Coast Emmy nomination for
his music for NBC's "Tribute
to 9/11" in 2003 and was
dubbed "Philadelphia's
Hottest Producer" by Blender
Magazine" in 2006 and "...one
of the world’s foremost
and phenomenal musical producers"
by Urban Mogul Magazine in 2008.
The list of production credit,
which is quite extensive, includes
dozens of artists, soundtrack
work for "American Rap
Stars", "Invincible",
and "G", tour production
for Vivian Green and Floetry,
music for Major League Baseball,
the NFL, and a handful of music
for radio and television. More
recently, Simon Illa has expanded
his audience even further with
his current work under the guidance
of Murray Media Music, as well
as his recent appearance on
TLC's hit television series
"Miami Ink".
website:
http://www.simonilla.com |
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Luis R.
Torres Jr.
In
May 2002, at the age of 19,
Luis R. Torres Jr. was involved
in a motor vehicle accident
that left him paralyzed from
the breastbone down resulting
from a level T-5 spinal cord
injury.
He realized early on that the
only way that he would overcome
his adversity is not relying
on a cure but to focus on his
abilities; not his disability.
“The bigger picture isn’t
waiting for a cure or even walking
again.
A lot of us in wheelchairs sit
around feeling sorry for ourselves
and don’t do |
| anything.
We wait hoping for a cure –
a cure that may or may not come
in our lifetime. What is important
is learning how to live meaningful,
productive lives until a cure
is found.” Luis Torres,
Times Herald-Record Friday August
19,2005 With a renewed and grateful
outlook on life, Luis noticed
the powerful effect he had on
patients new to spinal cord
injury. He realized he was capable
of uplifting and inspiring the
lives of individuals new to
SCI (Spinal Cord Injury). A
transformed and enlightened
spiritual outlook on life along
with a desire to spread hope
gave Luis the dream of one day
being able to spread his message
on a larger scale. The enthusiastic
response he received from the
families and individual lives
they affected encouraged them
to stay positive and hopeful,
giving Luis the vision of establishing
a charity to inspire and motivate
individuals living with various
disabilities and form “Vertical
Horizon NY.” Vertical
Horizon NY will work in cooperation
with Thinkfirst.org, Helen Hayes
Hospital and Achillies Track
Club to make possible for people
with all disabilities to participate
in mainstream athletics, to
promote personal achievement,
enhanced self esteem, and demonstrate
how differently-abled persons
should not be feared, distrusted,
pitied, overprotected, and patronized;
these feelings being a direct
result of the way a disability
is typically defined. With borrowed
racing equipment, Luis began
competing as a WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE
in the 2006 New York City Marathon
as a member of the Achillies
Track Club. Luis has since had
request to participate in marathons
and countless biathlons, duathlons,
triathalons, 5K and 10K races.
For more information about Luis
Torres and Vertical Horizon
NY
website:
http://thinkfirst.org
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