User:Kenjwright

Beverly Graham is a Singer/Songwriter/Activist who has used her skill, talent, passion for life, radical compassion, writing and music to help create an emergency food system in Seattle based on food equity and ingredient excellence with an organic ethic. Serving more than 500,000 no cost meals annually to the hungry living in the greater Seattle area, Beverly has created an organization that is unique in delivery and concept.

Artist/Musician
Beverly has been a creating and performing artist/musician since the age of fifteen, has recorded eight full-length albums; My Gift to You is Song, Singer, Till We All Have Faces, Moving Mountains, Guardian, Behind the Door Where I Live, Messenger, Open To The Inside...and has written and illustrated six children’s books; The Sun Smiled at the Moon, Child of Light, The Birth Of Sound, Keeper of the Flame, Ava's Angel, The Seed. She has used her abilities as a performer, writer, and inspirational speaker to create environments that heal, share, and promote open-mindedness.

Personal
Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Richard and Beryl Graham, Beverly's childhood consisted of living in several States; Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, New York and Washington. Her father bought a guitar when Beverly was 9 years old. Teaching herself how to play she began writing songs and had her first band when she was 12 years old. Married to Drummer Ken Wright, Beverly has three children, Sky, Taran and Kelsyn.

OSL (OPERATION: Sack Lunch
Beverly is the Founding Executive Director of the largest Meal Provider program for the homeless and food insecure in Washington State. OSL began as a one day project serving organic lunches to Seattle area homeless in 1989 and is now celebrating 25 years of direct service to an underserved population. As Seattle’s only recognized non bio-toxic charity kitchen, with organic and eco-friendly practices, Beverly has fostered a commitment to, and encouraged a progressive collaboration, with City and State Government and the private sector. Serving more than 5 million nutritionally dense and excellent meals, three meals a day, seven days a week, OSL is a pivotal link in the human service chain in the Seattle area and considered a “first responder” by State and local authorities in the event of a local or national emergency.

Programs
Over the years Beverly has developed several satellite programs promoting environmental and green practices including a food rescue program, saving more than 500,000 lbs of viable nutritious food each year before it hits the waste stream, a training program, Next Step, for homeless individuals, an advocacy and education alliance, the Meals Partnership Coalition, for more than 100 meal providers serving compromised populations and the Community Connections program which hosts more than 4000 volunteers annually. As a community builder Beverly’s multi-media presentation on hunger, homelessness, and discrimination awareness, has been instrumental in inspiring thousands of student, adult, and corporate volunteers to proactively engage in community involvement.

Additional Skills
With extensive experience in sacred settings including the house of healing, death and rebirthing, Beverly combines her skills as a Sound Practitioner, Shaman and Empathetic Intuitive utilizing several healing modalities in Vibrational Synchronized Resonance Therapy©.

Commendations
A list of Beverly’s commendations include:
 * 1997 Jefferson Award; National American Institute of Public Service
 * 1998 Raymond Hunthausen Humanitarian Award Honoree
 * 1998 International Giraffe Award
 * 2001 Soroptimist Woman of Distinction Award
 * 2002 Seattle Mayors End Hunger Award
 * 2004 Thomas C. Wales Foundation Honoree
 * 2007 Home Town Hero (published 2008)
 * 2008 Home Town Hero
 * 2008 End Hunger Award
 * 2014 Seattle City Council proclaims October 25th as "Beverly Graham" Day
 * 2014 King County Council honors Beverly Graham
 * 2014 Seattle Park Bench at First and Yesler is refurbished with a plaque honoring Beverly Graham for 25 years of "Only Serving Love" to the City of Seattle community.

Other Awards
Beverly has received several other community based awards for service, inspiration, and as a peacemaker. She is a 2006 invitational graduate of the Seattle University’s Executive Leadership Program and has composed the theme songs used by the Moyer Foundation and Boeing Employees Community Fund. Featured on the Hallmark Station, Beverly is a gifted storyteller and a dynamic performer with immense positive energy, insight and vision. She has an enormous ability to embody being love in action and her music, humor, and passion for all of life, linger with you long after her performance is finished. An article by Dan Fuller states; “standing less than five feet tall, she is a giant to thousands of people who have been touched by her talent and compassion”.