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"HEWING A STONE OF HOPE" - A motivational speech about a sculpture, a father, a daughter, a grandson, two stories of transformation and new beginnings, and a shared effort to spread hope and promote inner and international peace: Project Stone of Hope                                                      

THE SCULPTURE - The Jade Book     

THE FATHER AND HIS STORY

Cosimo Geracitano - Entrepreneur, Sculptor of The Jade Book, Parent of Three and Grandparent of Five                                                     

As a child, Cosimo experienced poverty and witnessed domestic abuse. As a young adult, he immigrated to Canada alone and with no one waiting for him. He had nothing but some pocket change and a suitcase containing a suit and a sweater, his most valuable possessions. He worked hard, married, had children, eventually became a successful entrepreneur, and started living the life of his dreams.                                                                                                         

In his fifties, Cosimo discovered he had a passion and talent for sculpting jade, the toughest stone on Earth. As he carved his first sculpture out of the material, he had an idea for a second. His vision developed into something extraordinary, something that would move him out of his inertia to put love  and nonviolence in action, and something that had the potential to inspire thousands more to do the same: The Jade Book.                                                                                                             

"The story of how [Geracitano] put his strong urge into action is awe-inspiring. How he learned the art   of sculpture at an age when most people would want to retire, how he acquired the tools and the stone, and how he proceeded to work in his garage through sunshine and snow must inspire all of us to work with the same zeal to achieve what moves us." - Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, founder/director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Memphis, Tennessee   

THE DAUGHTER, THE GRANDSON, AND THEIR STORY   

Daniela Geracitano Vance - Teacher, Author of The Jade Book: A Stone of Hope and My Gift: The Magic of a Special Child, Speaker, and Parent of Three

Daniela lived a charmed life while growing up (her father made sure of this). Then, in 1999, she and her husband, Glen, had their second child, Matthew, who was born with Down syndrome. Their son would later be diagnosed with Autism as well. He became their greatest teacher about the immeasurable worth of every individual and the invaluable gifts that each person has to offer and eventually part of the inspiration behind The Jade Book and Project Stone of Hope.                                                       

"I became a student of one of the youngest and most eloquent of professors. Matthew's first year of   life was a crash course, one that I certainly did not sign up for, and its subject: What it is to be Human." - Daniela Geracitano Vance, "Hewing a Stone of Hope"                           

THE PROJECT - Project Stone of Hope

View presentation outline for adult students/groups, grades 8-12, grades 6-8, and grades 2-5.

To book, email us at info@colossalcreations.com.