About the Artist

HawaH -

Born mentally curious, emotionally sensitive, and attitudinally stubborn, Hawah refuses to forget any single day.  He has dedicated his life to teaching about solutions to violence and ways to peace, and has traveled to over 23 countries in the past 9 years to facilitate interactive workshops, dialogues, perform poetry, teach yoga, and speak with those interested in creating a caring, sustainable, and equitable world---he claims that no matter where one travels, they always remain in the same place, unless they are willing to change.

Hawah (previously known as Rajeev R. Kasat) was born in Princeton, New Jersey, but spent a considerable amount of his childhood living in India. Early exposure to the unindustrialized world instilled within him a commitment towards empowering the less fortunate. His current work, organizing and educating through the arts, is driven by a desire to develop leadership in youth.

In 1998, Hawah decided his life needed change, and so took time away from college to join Americorps. For one year he worked as a community organizer and mentor to elementary school students in one of the most poverty stricken neighborhoods of Washington, DC. When he returned to college, he realized none of the existing majors would satisfy his passion and so developed an interdisciplinary major he called Peace and Educational Philosophy.

By summer 2000, Hawah graduated from American University, and over the next months was volunteering at Oak Hill Juvenile Detention Facility---work inspired by his hope to transform and rehabilitate the incarcerated. By year's end, he co-founded a non-profit organization called One Common Unity, (www.OneCommonUnity.org). Through a variety of artistic, educational, and community outreach initiatives, One Common Unity empowers youth and families by providing alternatives to violence, fostering responsible character development, facilitating positive self-expression, and forging relationships that support sustainable communities. During their formulating years, Hawah was an integral member of their Board of Directors and Program Development Team, today he continues to serve as their Executive Director.

In 2001, Hawah was awarded a Fellowship with the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. For the duration of that year he traveled to Geneva, Switzerland and Durban, South Africa, where he worked closely with the United Nations and the World Conference Against Racism and Discrimination.

In the years to follow, Hawah served as Director of Woodrow Wilson High School's Peaceable Schools Program. In addition to teaching Alternatives to Violence and Positive Stretch, he developed and frequently trained youth in a unique Diversity Leadership Program---helping students celebrate their differences, become aware of their similarities, and grow through their empathy.

Hawah, an author, educator, artist, community organizer, and certified yoga instructor, is an inspirational young speaker and voice for today's generation. He speaks nationally for People to People International, the Children's Defense Fund's Freedom Schools, and is a guest workshop presenter for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.  He has made numerous appearances on XM National Satellite Radio and been featured on Pacifica's National Radio Program Peacewatch, Voices With Vision and Damu Smith's weekly radio show Spirit in Action. Featured as "An Inspiring Young Leader" on Innerfaith Voices, a radio program produced by WAMU and aired by its 8 National affiliate stations, Hawah has facilitated workshops and been a featured speaker at places such as Yale University., George Washington University, U.C.L.A., University of Colorado, Rollins College, Georgetown University, and Brown University.

Hawah, the artist of a diverse collection of paintings and photographs first began to coin the term "Everlutionary" in 1999-2000. He published his first book in August 2001; Trails: A Journey in Trust Before Suspicion is a collection of true stories, poetry, photographs, and drawings. In October 2003, he released his second book entitled Escape Extinction. This book is a collection of essays regarding peace and war, love and hate, creation and destruction. In December 2005 his readers celebrated the arrival of his third book zerONEss, an insightful reflection of poetry and prose examining origins, unity and limits.

In December of 2009 Hawah will be releasing the first volume of his 2nd album titled, "CALL," and in 2010 he plans on releasing his 4th book, "Write with Water, Dance with Breath."

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