I’d Always Wanted to Make a Difference
The Gazette
Monique Dykstra, May 2001
Amber Sansom was the driving force behind last month’s Harmony Festival in the Mile End district. An Earth Day-inspired event, the festival was a day-long series of workshops, music and special events. But what would compel a 28-year-old graphic artist to enlist dozens of volunteers, hold a fundraiser, canvass for donations, and rent a church?
Sansom recently completed a series of personal-growth workshops called Landmark Education. In this program, participants are taught to challenge their existing views and inhibitions, both individually and within their communities.
Since 1985, more than 600,000 people have participated in Landmark Education programs in more than 100 cities worldwide.
“Landmark Education’s first course was about completing your past to give you freedom in your future. That course changed my life. I had all these incredible breakthroughs. The course was only 31⁄2 days, but I resolved things I’d been working on for years.
The next course was an eye-opener about community – how we’re all connected as human beings, and how one person really can make a difference in the world. I’d always wanted to make a difference – to be a leader – but I never knew how.
Then we were asked to do a community project. As I thought about my communities – my artist friends, woman friends, my family and student friends – I kept thinking, ‘None of these groups is large enough.’ I wanted something bigger. I wanted to reach people I didn’t know. I wanted to create something unimaginable.
Then I thought about my neighbourhood. There’s a real sense of community in Mile End. It’s like a village in the middle of a big city. It’s very rich culturally. There are people from around the world, and many people are involved in humanitarian causes.
I decided to hold a festival celebrating my community as well as showing the importance of living harmoniously, both with nature and with ourselves.
On the big day, we rented a church and blocked off the street. About 700 to 800 people came. There were dozens of musicians, a belly dancer, community groups came and set up displays, and a guy wandered around on stilts. Some free-art people gave away art supplies and someone demonstrated meditative exercises. We even had chalk donated, so the whole street got decorated with flowers.
The festival was a big success. People are already talking about next year. If it happens again, I’d be absolutely thrilled. Someone else might have to do it, though, as I’m hoping to travel next year. I’d like to visit other Landmark centres around the world - maybe even become a program leader one day.”
• Know any interesting Montrealers? Send suggestions to mail@studioiris.ca
Reprinted from The Gazette, Monday, May 14, 2001, Montreal, Canada