Category: Issues

Creativity is Justice in Action

I once read a quote: “I’m not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions.”

That phrase stuck with me like a splinter. Irritating. Uncomfortable. Demanding attention.

Why does it bother me?

Because it oversimplifies a complex reality.

Yes, personal responsibility matters. But opportunity shapes decisions—and opportunity is not evenly distributed.

I was born in the wealthiest nation in history. I had loving parents, access to education, and the freedom to make choices, with a safety net in case I needed it. That’s privilege.

But for millions, privilege isn’t an option.

DSC05932-girl_at_terminal — A young girl at the Terminal Dump in Guatemala City. Photo by Scott Owen Moore.

When Survival is the Only Choice

For years, through our nonprofit Athentikos, I’ve been immersed in stories of people forced to make impossible choices—children born into war, families ripped apart by violence, communities crushed by poverty.

A young girl scavenging in the Guatemala City garbage dump doesn’t get to choose between college and a gap year—she’s choosing between finding food and going hungry.

Are these people products of their decisions?

Yes. But when survival is the only goal, decisions aren’t about future success—they’re about making it through another day.

That’s why justice requires more than opportunity. It requires imagination.

Children Playing at the Terminal Dump in Guatemala City. Photo by Scott Owen Moore.

Creativity: The Engine of Justice

The world changes when people dare to see beyond their current circumstances.

Justice isn’t just about breaking chains. It’s about creating new paths forward.

The abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and the fight for human rights did not happen simply because of laws. They happened because people first imagined a different world and used creativity to make it real.

Because creativity is justice in action.

It allows us to envision a reality that doesn’t yet exist—and then build it.

✨ Creativity sees beyond limitation.
✨ Creativity multiplies opportunity.
✨ Creativity empowers us to rewrite the story.

Think about it:

Creativity fueled the Civil Rights Movement—where art, music, and speeches painted a picture of a just world before laws ever changed.
Creativity empowers children in under-resourced communities to reimagine their future. Through painting, music, and storytelling, they turn survival into self-expression.
Creativity drives global justice today—murals in refugee camps, protest songs that rally movements, films that expose hidden injustices. Art opens minds, builds empathy, and sparks change.
Creativity fuels entrepreneurship—giving people in struggling communities the ability to innovate, create jobs, and restore dignity in places where opportunities were once out of reach.

Justice doesn’t just fight oppression—it creates new possibilities.

And creativity is the force that drives it forward.

Choosing to Create a Just Future

As someone with opportunity and privilege, I choose to use my creativity to lift others who have less.

Through creativity, I choose to dream beyond my own story—to share a greater narrative of grace, mercy, and redemption through a Creator who loved us enough to create a way to restore us.

Now it’s your turn.

Creativity is worship. Creativity is healing. Creativity is justice.

Let’s not just talk about it—let’s create together.

Join Athentikos: I AM ART—a movement using creativity to heal, empower, and build a more just world.

athentikos circumstances creativity I Am Art justice opportunity

Wrestling With Thanksgiving

I’m wrestling with Thanksgiving.

I’m not wearing a Lucha Libre mask, leaping high off the ropes to grapple a turkey—although that would be epic. I’m actually talking about being honest with myself regarding what I’m thankful for.

Typically, I express gratitude for the good things in my life: God, family, food, shelter, health, education, friends, travel—things that warm my heart and bring a smile to my face.

But what about the other stuff? What about the things that have angered me, saddened me, or hurt me? Am I thankful for those experiences? Depending on my perspective (and sometimes my lack of one), I can find lessons in anything.

I’ve been immersed in the “Becoming Fools” project for the last three years. It’s been a stressful journey, and I’ve found myself growing increasingly exhausted and less thankful for the opportunity to be involved. I used to feel similarly about “Reparando,” but that changed over time after we released the film.

Like most people, I forget too easily.

During my scouting trip for “Becoming Fools” in 2011, Tita personally invited me to attend a screening of “Reparando.” I was honored by the invitation, but I was also exhausted from two weeks of 16-hour days spent interviewing people and capturing footage in Guatemala City. Part of me wanted to just return to my room and sleep. I couldn’t understand why my presence mattered. I thought, “I am just a silly Gringo; they won’t care. Besides, I’m here for ‘Becoming Fools,’ not ‘Reparando.'”

But Tita was persistent. She genuinely wanted me to come. So, we drove straight from our production site across the city to a church near La Limonada. Tita met us outside the church with hugs, and we watched the film from the back of the room.

After the film ended, Tita called Shorty and me to come up to the front. She hugged me, and while everyone was clapping, they presented a gift from the people of La Limonada: a T-shirt covered with signatures from the residents of La Limonada. These were people who were very thankful for the film we made. I realized I could not have been more wrong about many things.

My perspective was renewed.

“Reparando” brought me closer to many important aspects of life—God, family, friends, education, and travel. On a personal level, it helped me understand my sons’ stories in a way I could never grasp otherwise. On a broader scale, “Reparando” has inspired countless resources that have supported missions, blessing people who struggle far more than I can imagine—people who are genuinely grateful.

I believe “Becoming Fools” will eventually have a similar impact. So why am I wrestling with feelings of gratitude over “Becoming Fools”? I’m human, and I forget. That’s why we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds—continuously refocusing our perspectives on the truth. We often forget, which is one of the reasons we celebrate Thanksgiving: to remember. I find myself personally challenged to recall things that might not easily fit into a warm and fuzzy Thanksgiving narrative. Most of the time, I just try to fit these experiences into the wrong perspective.

Here’s the essential message:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Everything fits within the Thanksgiving framework when viewed from the right perspective. It’s not easy, but I hope that if I keep working at it, gratitude will ultimately prevail.

What aspects of Thanksgiving do you struggle with?

Homeless Youth Aren’t Always Orphans

Homeless youth aren’t always orphans.

“Becoming Fools” documents the intriguing story of homeless youth in Guatemala who are learning to heal through the art of clowning. During the production, we formed friendships with young people who began living on the streets as early as age seven. Through these interactions, we gained valuable insights into their issues.

One of the most profound revelations is that many of these youths, despite having families they could return to, choose to continue living on the streets. Some children lose their families, but many others prefer street life—sleeping in the rain, scavenging for food in dumpsters, disconnecting from society, constantly facing the threat of harm, and falling into the traps of drug addiction or prostitution—rather than going home to a roof and the company of family.

Why do they make this choice? Often, it’s because the violent city streets feel more peaceful than the homes they left behind. This reality is difficult to comprehend, especially for someone like me who grew up in a healthy family environment.

Many of these youths were born into extreme conditions that perpetuate cycles of drug addiction, child labor, violence, and abuse, unless a significant change occurs to break this cycle.

“Becoming Fools” features stories of youth who fled to the streets for various reasons, yet their experiences are strikingly similar. Mefi lost both of his parents when he was just 7 years old and ended up living with an abusive family member. Sandy was sent to the streets at a young age to sell candy and help provide for her family; she faced beatings if she didn’t return home with her required earnings. Raul lost his mother at a young age and lived with his alcoholic father, who abused him repeatedly. Although they all have family connections, these family members are abusive. At home, they are guaranteed to be mistreated, so the streets offer at least a small chance of peace.

The situation in Guatemala is incredibly challenging and lacks straightforward solutions. One major issue is the current lack of a strong culture of adoption and foster care in the country. However, it’s important to note that these children are not orphans. There is also a significant deficiency in social services programs, which often lack the necessary funding and resources to provide intervention.

Moreover, Guatemala faces rampant violence, and many people mistakenly equate homeless youth with violent delinquents, such as gang members or drug traffickers. This perception leads to a neglect of opportunities to help these vulnerable individuals. As a consequence, many of these youth remain unnoticed as they navigate the streets in search of survival.

Not all hope is lost. There are organizations actively addressing the issue, developing relationships with these youths, and working with them on a daily basis in the hopes of healing and transforming their lives. During the production of “Becoming Fools,” we witnessed firsthand how these “fools” dedicate their passion to the challenging task of rescuing and rehabilitating homeless youth. On one occasion, several organizations collaborated to allow street youth from Guatemala City to perform a clown show for orphans outside of Antigua. Part of this event was included in the final cut of the film, and its symbolic significance continues to resonate with me: homeless youth bringing joy to orphans, organizations coming together, and joy triumphing over tragedy.

2012 was a year of adventure and blessing for Athentikos

We are grateful to share our journey from 2012 with you:

Athentikos took a risk by beginning production on the Becoming Fools documentary without full funding, believing that God would provide. As of December 2012, the film is 75% complete.

For over five months, homeless youth were mentored by professional artists in preparation for a live theatrical event aimed at raising awareness and inspiring community involvement in the fight against homelessness. Athentikos fully funded the clowning classes and the theatrical production.

Ericha Penzien spent seven months in Guatemala facilitating film production and managing rehearsals for the theatrical performance. We were also blessed to have our first production intern, Brandon Rojano.

Scott Moore dedicated two and a half months to Guatemala to build relationships with homeless youth, mentor Guatemalan production volunteers, and capture footage for the Becoming Fools documentary. Our work gained visibility through features in magazines, radio, and television.

In June, Athentikos partnered with Guatemalan churches, NGOs, and local and federal governments for a consultation event to address homelessness and present an official report to the Guatemalan government. During this month, homeless youth shared their stories through a theatrical performance in front of over 400 people at Guatemala’s historic Teatro Abril.

We captured more than 485 hours of footage for Becoming Fools. As part of the project Reparando, Shorty had the opportunity to share the stage with Guatemala’s Vice President and present his testimony to over 10,000 high school students.

Athentikos was part of a leadership team with Lemonade International and Vidas Plenas to host an annual art camp for 100 at-risk kids in the La Limonada community, Guatemala. Through individual donations and a grant from LEGO, Athentikos provided over 70% of the funding for this initiative.
Vidas Plenas received a $64,102 grant in response to the awareness raised by our documentary, “Reparando”.
We believe that stories inspire change and hope. We are thankful to share these incredible blessings from 2012, which would not have been possible without your support!
Please help Athentikos continue inspiring through the art of storytelling by making a tax-deductible gift of $50, $100, $200, or more. Your investment will yield exponential returns as it inspires through storytelling in 2013 and beyond!

Thank you for believing in our mission and generously sharing your time, talent, and resources. Together, we are all part of this inspiring story!