Coming together as ONE

ONEness Keynote Program promotes awareness of diversity across the world

ONE, The Project is coming to campus to remind students of the similarities and celebrate the differences they share with other people both on campus and around the world.

First-time filmmakers Ward and Diane Powers, creators of ONE, The Movie, are coming to campus to share their unique and inspirational experiences. The couple was an unlikely candidate for creating a movie; Ward Powers has been a practicing trial attorney in Michigan for over 22 years. In 2002, Powers awoke one night and had a sudden compulsion to create a movie. With his wife Diane at his side, Powers set out to make what became ONE, The Movie.

ONE, The Project is based off of this independent film. The movie was created to increase awareness of the connections that all humans share. The film consists of regular people, great spiritual masters and leaders, authors, and influential thinkers talking about life’s ultimate questions. Topics discussed include describing God, explaining fear, theories on heaven, and opinions on war.

Hope Kwapiszewski, member of the Ferris Honors Council and nursing student, said, “Ward and Diane [Powers] will be showing a portion of the film they created while traveling the world interviewing kings, queens, politicians, religious leaders, kids, and your average person on the street while searching for the meaning of life.  They will be discussing their experiences as well, and will give the opportunity for the audience to ask questions.”

According to onetheproject.com, “ONE, The Project is a coming-together of people seeking to increase awareness of the connections we all share, remind us of our similarities, celebrate our differences and allow the positive energy of Oneness to emerge in a seemingly disconnected world.”

Since the film’s release in 2005, it has been shown at places ranging from universities such as Harvard and Notre Dame to more unconventional places such as prisons and corporate boardrooms.

The Project’s Web site states that “ONE reminds us that we are all on a journey to better understand ourselves, our connections with others, and our ultimate meaning and destiny.”

“Everyone is searching for something that is more than themselves, trying to figure out what their purpose in life is and what is going to happen after our time on earth is finished,” said Kwapiszewski. “This program really shows how we are one as a human race and how we should all be working together to make this world a better place.  It has a very powerful message and has the potential to touch a lot of lives.”

This free 5-Star event will take place on March 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Williams Auditorium. For more information about the event, contact Hope Kwapiszewski at 989-415-8925 or at kwapish@nullferris.edu. For more information about ONE, The Program, check out onetheproject.com. n