Kathy Eldon

Born in Cedar Rapids and a graduate of Wellesley College, Kathy has worked as a journalist, best-selling author, and film and award-winning television producer in England, Africa and the United States. In 1998 Kathy launched Creative Visions, inspired by the life of her son, Dan Eldon - artist, creative activist and photojournalist - killed at the age of 22 in 1993 while on assignment for Reuters in Somalia. Since 2004, the organization has impacted more than 100 million people and has been recognized as a United Nations NGO. In 1990, Kathy founded Creative Visions Productions to produce films that would inspire action. Recently, she and Kweku Mandela produced the feature film "The Journey is the Destination," based on her son’s life, which was shot in South Africa and Kenya. Kathy is the author of 17 books, including the popular "Catcher" series published by Chronicle Books, her memoir "In the Heart of Life," published by HarperOne and "Hope Rising, A Musing," published by Waterside Productions in 2021. Kathy, a popular speaker, has been featured on countless television and radio programs globally, including several appearances on Oprah. Kathy lives in Malibu with her husband, a few steps away from the Dan Eldon Center for Creative Activism, a vibrant hub for individuals who want to help change their bit of the world for the better.