as written by vanessa velez...

here is the article vanessa wrote about what we have going on here. again this may help shed some light on why i am focusing my energy and time on this. hope you enjoy it.


When first looking at Jesse Caldwell, one would be intimidated. A well-built man with tattoos leaving barely any skin on his arms uncovered, each line of ink representing an individual belief or ideal, that trace the paths he has walked in life. He emits an air of confidence, competence, and conviction that other people may seem to lack at first glance. Though no matter how authoritative his demeanor may seem, when reflecting upon his mother being diagnosed with ovarian cancer only a few years ago, folding his hands with "hell bent" tattooed across his knuckles, this young man with the commanding personality fragilely admits "I'm frightened." With those two words, a different man emerges from behind the demiurge. Not a man who declares a thought by etching it onto his body, but one who is held together, line by line, one color flowing into the next, by the strength and potential of the hope in each idea when the foundations of his life finally begin to come loose.

However, according to Jeanne Caldwell, Jesse's mother, when it comes to her condition, there is nothing to fear. "You must face the things you fear the most and overcome them," she states in her blog, cancerwhatelseisnew.blogspot.com. "Everyone's life s scary sometimes. But try when you can to just look at what you fear. Look at it right in the eye and spit."

A career nurse familiar with the toll a threatening disease can take on a family, she has been an active participant in Race for the Cure, a member of Gilda's Club, and a guest panelist on local New Jersey talk shows alongside (temporary) Governor Cody. When asked about how she wants her children to feel about her condition, Jeanne, with a personality as strong as her son's, states "I want my children to feel strong and secure. They need to acknowledge the fear and insecurity that this disease brings out in everyone, but like me, I want them to be strong and not let their emotions take over. I want my children to feel empathy for anyone who is going through what we are going through and have the strength to help others in the same situation if and when they can."

As we all know, the Caldwells are not aline in their struggle. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2008 alone, 745,180 man and 692,000 women were diagnosed with some form of cancer within the United States. Behind each one of those individuals is a family. A Jeanne Caldwell persevering through the challenge, despite the condemning statistics and a Jesse trying to help and ease the situation in anyway possible.

Setting off with his mother's advice to guide him, Jesse developed his own form of a cure for his mother's condition, when an actual cure for cancer seems hidden far off in the glare of the future's horizon. He conceived the idea for his project "Mission:Remission" after attending last years 4th Street Arts and Music Festival in downtown Jersey City. There he found a community of artists, musicians, and local businesses who united for one weekend in October to celebrate the people who have transformed that area into a hub of sub-cultural diversity. "To me, personally, it was amazing," he states. " I spent my day surrounded by local artists, vendors, musicians, skaters, and friends. It was a beautiful and inspiring day for me."

Seeing how popular the artist community had become in the area, at first, Jesse's idea for "Mission: Remission" was this: A silent auction would be held during 2009's 4th Street Arts and Music Festival. The artwork would involve several different artist's renditions of the "ribbon"; the pink symbol often associated with an awareness to female forms of cancer. They would then take the proceeds of the auction and donate them to several different cancer research foundations. As the word of "Mission: Remission" spread, however, Caldwell says "It really started to take a life of its own. I got such an initially overwhelming response that it left me a little nervous." The once silent auction has now expanded into a full-blown charity event which will now involve the work of any interested artist, musician, and writer who is willing to have a personal investment in the cause. "I would love for both the artists and the collectors to both feel the joy of contributing to (the cause) and I think it can be rewarding for both and dually rewarding for the charities."


The next 4th Street Arts and Music Festival will be held this coming October and although it is still almost ten months away, the effort to conduct an event like this is going to take an overwhelming amount of time and energy. "Organizing and orchestrating an event like this is something that is going to take over my life, I am sure, as it gets closer to the date," acknowledges 31-year-old Caldwell, but "I also have several very capable volunteers who have said they would help with anything and everything." Among those volunteers is Patrick F.Dunn, a long-time friend of Caldwell, who is compiling a zine which will take written word submission as an outlet for anyone who wishes to contribute something to the project, but doesn't consider themselves among the artistically inclined. There will also be a Paypal account set up in the beginning of the new year for anyone who would like to contribute financially if they feel there is no otherpossible outlet. An event-only CD of recording from participating musicians will be available for purchase, as well as a variety of "Mission:Remission" T-shirts, pins, magnets, and buttons.

Anyone who is interested in participating in "Mission: Remission" can contact Jesse Caldwell at mission.remission@gmail.com. An artist can contribute one single hanging piece, although several small hanging pieces totaling no larger than 2'x2' will be accepted no later than September 15. Musicians can contribute preferably lo-fi recordings for the event-only CD before September 1st, and written work can be submitted to Patrick F. Dunn at patrickfdunn@gmail.com before the beginning of July. Anyone interested in performing spoken word or acting as a singer/songwriter for the day of the even is urged to get in touch as soon as possible. For more information you can visit mission-remission.blogspot.com.

Although a cure for cancer has yet to be discovered, it can also come in the form of an idea. "Mission:Remission" is about people who are held together by same ideals and beliefs; uniting together under the canopy of a shared vision, who are willing to contribute their best talents to a single cause. As Jeanne Caldwell says, its about having empathy for people in the same situation, and sometimes the best possible way to countermeasure the fear is by individuals gathering together to create a positive environment for a negative situation. "It's always been about friends helping friends" says Jesse Caldwell, "helping friends, where ever and when ever."