Guest Post+No Strings Attached Giveaway: Jan Thrope on finding Champions of Change


Inner Visions: Grassroots Stories of Truth and Hope
by Jan Thrope

I can't think of a greater joy than sharing with you some wonderful things happening in the world! Today's guest post is by an
amazing woman who, no strings attached, looked beyond the poverty and gloom of inner city Cleveland ... and came up with this positive, hopeful and profoundly intimate book. Thank you, Jan, for joining us today! 

Read through and a No Strings Attached giveaway for two books (1 US, 1 Can) is at the bottom, hopefully a book that will be shared around by many!


Inner Visions; Grassroots Stories of Truth and Hope
by Jan Thrope


Cleveland may have been designated the poorest big city in the United States but that was before residents found a way to move beyond pain, to passion and purpose. With the hope of changing the long-held perception that Cleveland is dying and its residents are broken, I wrote Inner Visions; Grassroots Stories of Truth and Hope. It is a non-fiction photographic journal that shows and tells the challenges faced by those living in the most impoverished neighborhoods and it highlights the “Champions of Change.”


Image from Inner Visions website
This is not a photographic coffee table book about gloom and doom. Nor is it written as an intellectual essay chock-full of poverty statistics. Rather it contains deeply personal proses collected from the inner city residents with whom I have had the privilege of forming enduring relationships. They are an integral part of a powerful grassroots movement that is taking hold and breathing new life into these urban neighborhoods. Their stories provide examples of how the visions within us are so much more powerful than the despairing sights around us. Change happens not by doing more of the same but by looking within and creating new opportunities. These residents teach us that our most neglected resources are our human resources that we have overlooked and undervalued. They show us that everyone has a skill to share, a role to play and the ability to make miracles happen in the community.

I didn’t set out to write this book. The process was jump-started when a boy I was tutoring was overcome by fear. Each day on the way to school he witnessed things that were so frightening that he became incapacitated. I started exploring his neighborhood to find the source of his anxiety and to discover ways to keep him safe.

Image from Inner Visions website
Driving up and down some hidden streets of Cleveland often with a camera held low through an open window, I was initially struck by the brutality and hopelessness pervading the streets. Yet as soon as I began talking with residents they shared their vibrant, creative ideas for improving the area. They are the source of boundless energy, talents, and innovative projects that are bringing real hope to Cleveland. Their triumphs need to be broadcast so their projects can be emulated.

Inner Visions of Cleveland is a non-profit that was formed to support the projects that are being initiated and led by visionary residents of Cleveland and East Cleveland. We are dedicated to discovering, supporting and promoting their initiatives. We meet people where they live and connect them with whatever resources they need to help their projects grow and flourish. Sometimes that means introducing one neighbor to another, so they can share their talents and supplies. Other times it means bringing people from opposite ends of the economic spectrum together to work on projects. We believe that we are each other's missing piece. Once all the missing pieces are reconnect, then we can all be whole.

100% of all of the proceeds from the book goes to support Inner Visions of Cleveland projects.

About the Author
Jan Thrope is a social worker, a community activist and the Founder of Inner Visions of Cleveland. She lives with her husband Geoff in the Greater Cleveland area. They have two grown sons.


2 copies! 1 US / 1 Canada. (US/CAN only) 
This is a no strings attached giveaway. Leave your email address and indicate whether you have a US or Canadian mailing address. That's all you need to enter!
However, I would love to hear what you think about this book or what you may have to say, so of course, free feel free to leave any comments. If you decide to "follow" me, it is very much appreciated (check out sidebar). If you have a blog, please leave a link so I can visit you!  

44 comments

  1. I am in the US.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    alwaysjoart@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the giveaway!!
    I am a US resident.
    mestith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the chance! Kelly T.

    girlfloyd at gmail dot com

    US Mailing Address

    ReplyDelete
  4. cassandra mccann star95011atyahoodotcom usa

    ReplyDelete
  5. scrapping2472004(at)gmail(dot)com

    Wisconsin, US

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the great giveaway
    US
    Crystal
    crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am from the Midwest and I love stories about hard fought battles of people and communities!! I have a US mailing address. sbereza22(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you
    Trista
    blogginmumma@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like an amazing true story! I live in the U.S.
    irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. US! sschroeder @ windstream.net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great!

    Joe

    jlv_rt(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. US
    Shaunda.Eppes at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks!!

    I live in the US

    fizees at jenblogs dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am in the US! robin.christofaro@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Im In The U.S
    darleneysaguirre @yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. etotschinger at yahoo dot com
    US

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks! I have a US address!
    vandango33 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is *exactly* the kind of book I love to read. I'd love to review this for my blog/Goodreads/Amazon/etc! :) U.S. resident, e-mail is inmymargins@gmail.com. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Darlene (Canada)
    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. sheshatr at ymail dot com

    USA

    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. It sounds inspiring.
    USA
    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for the giveaway! US Address.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for participating in this hop, and thank you for offering such a positive, inspiring book.
    I live in the US.
    karen dot arrowood at sbcglobal dot net

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the giveaway!

    aimeelavalle(@)gmail(dot)com

    usa

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
    USA

    ReplyDelete
  26. You picked a very interesting book. Would love to read it.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Forgot to say USA!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
    elizabeth @ bookattict . com
    USA

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am in Alabama.

    bookaholicholly at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks! I'm in the United States

    ReplyDelete
  31. ltlbitone@yahoo dot com
    us address

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am in the US.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    sibabe64 at ptd dot net

    ReplyDelete
  33. This sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Amanda
    US
    chefamanda (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for the giveaway. I have a US address.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks for the giveaway. Happy March!
    I live in the US
    savewish@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great giveaway!
    I live in the USA.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the giveaway!

    tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

    US address

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thank you!

    kmsite1 at aol dot com

    usa

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thank you for the chance!
    ~Mippy :)
    bunnysmip (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
    Live in the USA

    ReplyDelete
  40. rwilson0720@yahoo.com
    My mailing is in the US!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks! US
    mmc123456 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. thanks and happy march!
    US address
    gokarter418 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete




© guiltless readingMaira Gall