Letter from the Director

The scope of ISA’s work is deeply tied to my personal journey.

I’m excited to see integrated into a single organization the work of Aikido Ethiopia and the Arts 4 Youth Center (formerly, Action for Youth Center and Hawassa Youth Center). The arts and aikido are both paths of mastery. They both have the power to transform the lives of individual practitioners, as they have mine.

In 2000, I was part of the Debub Nigat Circus that became the social and political powerhouse, One Love Theater. Our narrative-based approach to delivering HIV/AIDS awareness was widely recognized as both unique and effective. Our audiences were changed, but so were we the performers. We left those performances inspired, aware of our own agency, and driven to contribute meaningfully to Ethiopia’s toughest social challenges.

From what I’ve seen, stepping into an arts or aikido classroom is a virtuous cycle. As teachers and mentors, we have the opportunity to model exceptional leadership. Taking a personal interest in each student increases our chance of discovering their potential, not just as an artist or aikidoka, but also as a member of their families, tribes, and communities. And what we find, over and over, is when we do that: great skill, great spirit, and a desire for putting in the hard work show up too; to truly embody transformative conflict, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Then, you want to pass those gifts on.

Thank you for taking an interest in this work.