We Are Family Foundation
Encyclopedia
The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is an American
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by songwriter, musician, and producer Nile Rodgers
in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks
. Its mission is dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate people about mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity - while striving to solve some of our biggest global problems at the same time.
The foundation began on September 22, 2001, when Rodgers and Tommy Boy Music president Tom Silverman
brought 200 musicians, celebrities, and personalities together in New York City
and Los Angeles
to re-record Rodgers' hit song "We Are Family" (best known in its 1979 hit version performed by Sister Sledge
) to start the healing process after the events of September 11. Director
Spike Lee
filmed the "We Are Family" music video
, and director Danny Schechter
filmed a documentary
entitled The Making and Meaning of We Are Family, which depicts the recording session. The documentary was chosen as a Sundance Film Festival
Special Selection in 2002.
In October 2001, a children's version of the song "We Are Family" was recorded, featuring more than 100 beloved children's television characters, an unprecedented collaboration among seventeen competitive media corporations.
A three-minute music video of the children's recording aired as a public service announcement on Disney Channel
/Disney, Nickelodeon, Boomerang
, and PBS
channels. In 2007, the music video was paired with educational lesson plans to create the "We Are Family: A Musical Message for All" educational DVD
program designed for early childhood educators. The DVD was distributed free to more than 58,000 public and private elementary schools in the United States and National Head Start programs with the intent of promoting tolerance and diversity to America's children.http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/PressReleases/PR_DVDReleased.aspx
In 2008, the We Are Family Foundation hosted the first annual international Three Dot Dash "Just Peace Summit" based on the message Mattie Stepanek
offered in his book "Just Peace". Three Dot Dash is a global initiative of the We Are Family Foundation that supports Global Teen Leaders (GTLs) around the world who are leading projects that promote a more peaceful society by addressing one or more basic human need — food, water, health, shelter, safety, education and the environment. The name Three Dot Dash is a mash-up of Morse code, used by telegraphs, and the two-fingered "V" gesture that has come to be known as the peace sign. In Morse code, "V" is •••–
Inspired by the late 13-year-old poet and peacemaker Mattie J.T. Stepanek
, Three Dot Dash is a yearlong leadership and mentoring program that teaches teen leaders how to effectively "tell their stories" during the Just Peace Summit using various forms of media, current technology and distribution methods to gain media attention and public support for their causes. Three Dot Dash creates a sustainable worldwide network of individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations to support GTLs and foster public participation around the globe. The Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summits have brought together GTLs from 29 countries on 6 continents. The 2012 Just Peace Summit will take place in March 2012 in New York City. To find out more visit threedotdash.org
The We Are Family Foundation also annually awards the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award to an individual who has used their talents and gifts to meet the basic needs of others and promote peace. Thus far, recipients have included Maya Angelou
, Quincy Jones
, Paul Simon
, Deepak Chopra
, and Rev. Desmond Tutu
and Mrs. Leah Tutu.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by songwriter, musician, and producer Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. Its mission is dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate people about mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity - while striving to solve some of our biggest global problems at the same time.
The foundation began on September 22, 2001, when Rodgers and Tommy Boy Music president Tom Silverman
Tom Silverman
Tom Silverman is the founder, chairman and CEO of the record label Tommy Boy Records , and he is co-founder of the independent film and television company Tommy Boy Films. Silverman co-founded Dance Music Report magazine, which ran from 1978 to 1992, and he co-founded the Dance Music Hall of Fame,...
brought 200 musicians, celebrities, and personalities together in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to re-record Rodgers' hit song "We Are Family" (best known in its 1979 hit version performed by Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
) to start the healing process after the events of September 11. Director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
filmed the "We Are Family" music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, and director Danny Schechter
Danny Schechter
Danny Schechteris a television producer, independent filmmaker, blogger, and media critic who writes and lectures frequently about the media in the United States and worldwide. He specializes in investigative journalism and producing programming about the interfaces among human rights, journalism,...
filmed a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
entitled The Making and Meaning of We Are Family, which depicts the recording session. The documentary was chosen as a Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
Special Selection in 2002.
In October 2001, a children's version of the song "We Are Family" was recorded, featuring more than 100 beloved children's television characters, an unprecedented collaboration among seventeen competitive media corporations.
A three-minute music video of the children's recording aired as a public service announcement on Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
/Disney, Nickelodeon, Boomerang
Boomerang (TV channel)
Boomerang is a 24-hour American cable television channel owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a division of Time Warner. Boomerang specializes in reruns of animated programming from Time Warner's extensive archives, including pre-1986 MGM, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises...
, and PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
channels. In 2007, the music video was paired with educational lesson plans to create the "We Are Family: A Musical Message for All" educational DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
program designed for early childhood educators. The DVD was distributed free to more than 58,000 public and private elementary schools in the United States and National Head Start programs with the intent of promoting tolerance and diversity to America's children.http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/PressReleases/PR_DVDReleased.aspx
In 2008, the We Are Family Foundation hosted the first annual international Three Dot Dash "Just Peace Summit" based on the message Mattie Stepanek
Mattie Stepanek
Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek , known as Mattie Stepanek, was an American poet, who had six books of poetry and one book of essays all reach The New York Times bestsellers list...
offered in his book "Just Peace". Three Dot Dash is a global initiative of the We Are Family Foundation that supports Global Teen Leaders (GTLs) around the world who are leading projects that promote a more peaceful society by addressing one or more basic human need — food, water, health, shelter, safety, education and the environment. The name Three Dot Dash is a mash-up of Morse code, used by telegraphs, and the two-fingered "V" gesture that has come to be known as the peace sign. In Morse code, "V" is •••–
Inspired by the late 13-year-old poet and peacemaker Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Mattie Stepanek
Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek , known as Mattie Stepanek, was an American poet, who had six books of poetry and one book of essays all reach The New York Times bestsellers list...
, Three Dot Dash is a yearlong leadership and mentoring program that teaches teen leaders how to effectively "tell their stories" during the Just Peace Summit using various forms of media, current technology and distribution methods to gain media attention and public support for their causes. Three Dot Dash creates a sustainable worldwide network of individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations to support GTLs and foster public participation around the globe. The Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summits have brought together GTLs from 29 countries on 6 continents. The 2012 Just Peace Summit will take place in March 2012 in New York City. To find out more visit threedotdash.org
The We Are Family Foundation also annually awards the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award to an individual who has used their talents and gifts to meet the basic needs of others and promote peace. Thus far, recipients have included Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
, Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
, and Rev. Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
and Mrs. Leah Tutu.