The Extra Mile Adventure is very simple:
Make a difference. On December 1st, eighteen individuals, a movie camera, and boxes of supplies will pack their way onto a Bio-diesel bus in San Francisco, and embark on a seven week journey that will take them through Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Along the way this mobile community will pass through many cities, towns, and villages whose need for humanitarian aid far outstrips the local capacity. The Extra Mile bus will be stopping in these locations in order to assist with community development projects where eighteen extra pairs of hands will make all the difference. In conjunction with this, each rider on the Extra Mile bus will create an artistic project to share with the local communities. The entire trip will be captured on film, uploaded to our website via satellite internet as we travel and be made into a full-length documentary at the completion of the journey. In a time when a conscious, global community has never been more important to the survival of our species, The Extra Mile Adventure will literally go the extra mile in order to forge ties across borders, bring aid to those in need, and share a common humanity through artistic expression. And all of this will be completed with the smallest carbon footprint possible left behind.
In more detail: What’s possible when a group of 18 people set out to make a difference?
Observing a world in distress, amazed by the abundance of beauty, committed to being in action and evolving a plan to make a difference The Extra Mile Adventure project comes into existence. With roots in the celebration of life, the oneness of humanity and environmental consciousness – the branches reach for the sky. What is your passion, what is your dream?
Distress
The world is full of distressing signals that beam from our televisions and plaster our newspapers: wars, tsunamis, hurricanes and earthquakes, the threat of catastrophic climate change, overwhleming poverty and hunger, abuse of human rights… all shards of tragedy.
Beauty
But shall we be fortunate and take notice, we are likely to be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of many ‘little things’ surrounding us: flowers blooming in the garden, abundance at the local farmers markets, children laughing and playing, solar panels gleaming in the sun, people making a difference in their community or simply being wonderful parent… all rays of beauty.
Action
Enter a merry troupe of idealistic, passionate and talented people! As individuals in their daily lives they inspire, but now they forge a new path. In coming together to create a mobile community based in being fervently alive, adventurous and committed to making a difference they are going … The Extra Mile.
Plan
A hands-on approach to making a difference: The Extra Mile project will impact dozens of communities thru direct service between San Francisco, CA and San Salvador, El Salvador.
A lens for sharing the global village: The Extra Mile Adventure project will craft an artisan film about extraordinary people and the power we all have to affect positive change in our community and in our world… prepare to inspire; prepare to be inspired!
What is possible when you join us?
De-Distress
We believe there is no point in dwelling on what is going wrong in the world, so we took the liberty of focusing on de-distressers. De-distressers (aka kick-ass non-profit or community groups) work day in and day out to leave the world less distressed then they found it – to leave a resilient sparkle of beauty for others to admire. 18 people will hop out and provide assistance.
Beauty
We want to make a difference, so we asked a simple question: what is beautiful in this world? Slowly, but intuitively a web of words, ideas, actions and visions began to take hold in the fertile space we formed: community, inspiration, empowerment, hands-on-impact, passion, creativity, being in action, making a difference, nature, smiles, boundless joy, travel, journey, humanity, raw emotions, the environment…
From these seeds - and nurtured by our commitment, engagement, empowerment and joy - a beautiful creation has begun to sprout. And the very best part of all: the more people involved, the more people bringing their own passions, desires, energy and smiles the stronger, healthier and more beautiful this creation becomes. This is as much a statement of the sprout as it is a call to join in its growth and cultivation! Speaking of beauty – one element of this trip is about making beautiful artwork and enjoying this beautiful world.
Action
Core to the philosophy of The Extra Mile Adventure project is the idea of being in action about things that inspire you. It might surprise you to learn that we consider you a part of this merry troupe! Like the ripple effect of a smile or a butterfly’s wings, no action is too small to make a world of difference.
Help with a yelp:
Ok, getting from here to there is not going to be free. We need two types of capital: messages of joy and community to share with people along the way (please send to theextramileadventure@gmail.com) and of course good old moola’. We have a tax deductable status with an umbrella organization: Inner Circle Theater Company (www.ictheater.org).
Get on the bus, Gus!
This is about making a hands-on difference … AND being your creative expression. What is your favorite creative thing to do? What is your hobby or what would you really like to do but think it doesn’t pay enough, or its not practical, or you don’t think could work? What ever that is, we will cultivate that creative side on the bus and share it with the communities we pass through and each other.
On the bus so far:
2 visual artists
2 musicians
2 actors
2 film crew
2 surfers
1 still shot photographer
1 writer
1 play write
1 yogi
1 cook
1 driver
1 mechanic
1 organizer/manager of locations
This is about a group of people coming together to make a difference and share their talents. Summer is not a good surfer, but she is great with people and can communicate through performance. Jack can surf a wave and drop your jaw every time. Nick can’t play guitar, but he’s ‘visual musician’ when it comes to the camera. We are an all-star team combining our talents to make an incredible movie.
“This life is gorgeous and I want to share that beauty with the world. The goal of the video is to inspire and empower others to be in action in their own lives. Not to do what we are doing, per say, but maybe pick up a new sport, travel, learn a language, help out in their community, or take a chance. However is occurs for them.”
