Honoring a Pillar of the World Pulse Community

Beloved Community ~

It saddens me today to let you know of the loss of Leah Auma Okeyo - one of the original founding voices of World Pulse.  

She logged onto the World Pulse site in its very first months from rural Kenya as an HIV/AIDS survivor, a mother of 5 children, and caregiver for other HIV+ women in her community. Over the years she grew her voice and profile to become a recognized Kenyan poet, HIV expert, spiritual giant, and global voice advocating for women and children.  Yesterday she transitioned to be a force for justice on the other side.  She lost a long battle with cancer yesterday, and her daughter (also a World Pulse member starting from the age of 11!)  called me, inconsolable, to let me know that she had lost her mum.  

Many World Pulse members are grieving today - and especially our World Pulse Kenya sisters, who lost one of their own - who was always looking out for them behind the screens.  I am guessing as well many of you were touched by Leah weaving webs of our community behind the scenes - and others were touched we may never fully know.

I know that community members are already envisioning a virtual memorial service for Leah for those who knew her and loved her to honor her.   We will share this once the date is set, do leave a comment if you'd like to receive a notification.  And, I welcome you to share a fond memory of Leah in the comments if you knew her. 

Leah transformed my life and what I dreamed possible for World Pulse. She shaped what World Pulse is today from the very beginning. She became a friend and mentor. Leah taught me the meaning of true cross-border solidarity, traversing from dawn in Kenya to dusk in the US, pulsing love across the virtual wires. She was tireless advocate for her community, her children, and anyone who was neglected and cast out. 

She would tell me that I should go to bed and rest if I was up too late and she would "carry the flame" of World Pulse.  

Now, we will carry the flame, Leah, in your honor .... always...

She was a poet of the people.  Her writings will be kept sacred here in our community.   And for now, we leave you with one of her poems:

I WOULD RATHER BE POOR

I would rather be poor if this is how the rich behave After all I'm wealthy in reason and resources

I would rather be uneducated if this is how the well-schooled behave For they will have read more notes but I will be wiser

I would rather be hungry if this is how the satisfied behave For in my hunger I will be humane

I would rather be a guard at the parliament gate if this is how the politicians behave For I will brush shoulders with them at the entrance and not participate in their sly schemes

I would rather be powerless if this is how the powerful behave For in my toothlessness I will bite harder and deeper

~Leah Auma Okeyo

We unearthing more poetry and more tributes are to come.

She leaves a great legacy,