Alabama HERO Housing

Dear Students, Parents and Friends,

I am proud to announce TheDOJO’s participation in the Alabama Martial Arts Building Event - perhaps the most meaningful martial arts leadership event in the world. Based in Greensboro, Alabama, the Build-Vention is our version of a martial arts convention - but with a twist. Instead of attending seminars and taking classes, we arm ourselves with hammers, nails, saws, and paintbrushes to build and renovate homes, buildings and projects in a town deeply involved in renewal and revitalization.

This year we will be helping to build a new income-generating business in Greensboro, Alabama: An outdoor bread and pizza oven, an awning to cover it, and seating for patrons. Proceeds from the sale of baked goods produced by the oven will go to benefit The Hale County Empowerment and Revitalization Organization (HERO) www.herohousing.org.

From April 8-11th Sensei Dan's wife Kim Christian and TheDOJO's Executive Director Jennifer Gallo will be joined by hundreds of martial arts school owners and black belts to lend their support and their talents to this remarkable effort. Over the last decade, participants - including TheDOJO - have raised more than $200,000 in donations and facilitated more than 40,000 man hours of volunteer labor. We are so proud to be a part of this change we wish to see in the world and to be actively participating again this year.

“Out of the dojo and into the world,” is the battle cry of The Alabama Martial Arts Building Event, this annual event founded by 7th degree black belt Tom Callos of Auburn, California. “Real self-defense in today’s world,” says Callos, “has…far more to do with being an engaged participant in one’s community, environmental responsibility, attention to food production and diet, and care and compassion for others. This Building Event isn’t just about building structures, it’s about inspiring very disciplined black belt teachers to use their strengths and talents to make a difference in their communities and the world.”

Some of my own living heroes who will be in attendance this year are HERO’s Director, Pam Dorr, environmentalist icon Julia Butterfly Hill, Keshia Thomas, Dave Kovar, Academy Award winning filmmaker and martial arts school owner Nancy Walzog and a host of others who are deeply committed to a kind of martial arts that transforms people and communities.

TheDOJO has set a goal of $1000 to support the Alabama Martial Arts Build-Vention 2015. Please visit TheDOJO.org to donate whatever you can. Every dollar helps to make projects such as these - truly innovative and life-affirming projects - possible.

Thank you,
Sensei Dan Rominski