I AM Movie Asks "What's Wrong With the World?" Special Screening August 10 in Las Vegas

“Amazing…” –Ellen Degeneres

You are invited to attend a special screening of the distinctly powerful documentary I AM (as seen on OPRAH) at the Center for Spiritual Living in Las Vegas on Friday, August 10.

I AM Documentary

As a Spiritual Coach, I embrace the opportunity to host the screening and share the film's inspiring message.

About I AM
I AM is the story of a successful Hollywood director, Tom Shadyac (LIAR LIAR, NUTTY PROFESSOR, BRUCE ALMIGHTY) who experienced a life threatening head injury, and his ensuing journey to answer two very basic questions: What's wrong with our world? and What can we do about it?

With a film crew of four, Tom visits some of today's GREAT MINDS, including authors, poets, teachers, religious leaders, and scientists (Howard Zinn, Lynn McTaggart, Desmond Tutu, Thom Harmann, Coleman Barks) searching for the fundamental endemic problem that causes all of the other problems, while simultaneously reflecting on this own life choices of excess, greed and eventual healing.

They started by asking what's wrong with the world, and ended up discovering what's right with it.

Special Screening on Friday, August 10
The screening will be held at the Center for Spiritual Living from 6:30 PM to approximately 8:30 PM -- this includes a post-screening Q&A which provides an opportunity for you to share your takeaways from the film and how you will incorporate them into your life to make a difference.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the Center for Spiritual Living bookstore in Las Vegas and at the door.

Praise For I AM
"Amazing..." --Ellen Degeneres

"Everyone needs to see this film!" --Bruce Cohen, Academy Award Winning Producer (American Beauty)

"Entertaining and enlightening. The I AM Documentary is a spark of light and a work of love." --Marianne Williamson, New York Times Best Seller

Click here to purchase the I AM DVD.

Real Leadership: Former NFL Star Turned Supreme Court Justice

"He was studying law in the locker room as an NFL player." - Steve Rushin

As a football fan it is with interest that I watch The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players as voted by the players themselves. In 2010, Number 43 on the list was Alan Page.

Honorable Alan C. Page

Page’s career was recounted by sportswriter Steve Rushin who, as a kid, was a Minnesota Vikings fan in awe of number 88, Alan Page.

From 1967 until 1978 Page was a defensive player for the Vikings (thereafter, he joined the Chicago Bears and played through their 1981 season.) He never missed a game in his 15-year career. On the field he was considered relentless; off the field he was described as mild-mannered and cerebral.

In 1971 he was the first defensive player to be named MVP since the award’s inception. In 1979 he became the first active NFL player to complete a marathon. It is said that he has since completed hundreds of marathons.

Why Page is a Stand Out
So, why does Alan Page stand out in Steve Rushin’s mind? Besides being a gifted player, Rushin discovered Page’s grace and humility.

In the 1970s when Rushin was unable to find a Vikings jersey with the number 88 on it, he created his own. He knew Page would be staying at a nearby hotel, so he set out to have him autograph the homemade jersey. To his dismay, Page did not sign autographs. Twenty-five years later, Rushin met Page and told him the story.

Page later responded by sending a signed number 88 jersey with a note explaining that it was meant to replace Rushin’s threadbare jersey. According to Rushin, “I can count on one hand the number of NFL subjects I’ve received a handwritten note from after that.”

The reason Page didn’t sign autographs, says Rushin, was that he did not want people to feel he was better than they were because he was a football player.

No Regrets Over Super Bowl
Although some players retire with regrets over never winning the big one, Page cared little about never winning a Super Bowl.

He focused on HIGHER EDUCATION and attended the University of Minnesota Law School while still playing for the Vikings. Amazingly, there were times he studied his law books during locker room breaks. In 1978, Page received his law degree and today, he is a MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

Hard Work, Discipline and Focus
Of the many mementos in Page’s office, none reflect his career as an NFL player. Instead there are mementos of Jim Crow laws and other reminders of the power lawmakers possess to make a difference.

"The lessons that I learned from professional football were many: hard work, discipline, focus, the ability to analyze a problem and work through it. To accept that you don't always win and when you do win that doesn't change who you are." Alan C. Page, 2005

Real Leadership: Maya Angelou

"The honorary duty of a human being is to love.” –Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou

Dr. Angelou has proven to be a leader of character through her personal values, her profound body of work, the wisdom she imparts, and her humanitarian spirit.

Born in 1928, Dr. Angelou has earned prominence as a poet, educator, author, actress, producer, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. She has served on two presidential committees and is currently the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

Through her seemingly endless array of talents and contributions, Dr. Angelou has abundantly imparted messages of love, tolerance, faith, courage, boldness, gratitude, respect, humility, and appreciation for life.

Works
Among her many works are the internationally-acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (an autobiographical account of her youth), the poem Still I Rise, and her screenplay Georgia, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Read biography

Honors and Achievements
In 2011, Dr. Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “I try to be as kind and fair, and generous…and respectful, and courteous to every human being,” says Angelou.
Watch video

In 2008, she received the Lincoln Medal and in 2000 was awarded the Presidential Medal for the Arts. In 1975, she received the Ladies Home Journal Woman of the Year Award in communications.

She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the National Commission on the Observance of International Woman's Year and by President Ford to the American Revolutionary Bicentennial Advisory Council. She is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees.

Dr. Angelou continues to build on her distinguished legacy and remains a powerful voice that lifts, educates, empowers, and inspires.

The Real Leadership Series is a monthly blog written by Christine Ferguson. Click here to visit the RLS site and read more blogs on real leaders, subscribe, or nominate a leader of character

Maya Angelou photo is the property of mayaangelou.com and Dwight Carter. No copyright infringement intended.