How happy are you today right now?
How happy do you anticipate being in the future 10 years from now? How often do we ask ourselves these questions? More importantly do they even matter?Kofi candidate for Malibu City Council thinks they do.The nation of Bhutan in southern Asia values itself in Gross National Happiness (GNH) a term coined in 1972 by then-King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.This mountainous Buddhist nation recognizes that the well-being of a people cannot be judged solely on its economic and commercial well-being. While these factors can play a role in happiness measurements such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) simply do not suffice in explaining a nation’s true welfare say the Bhutanese. This model is an example of just one of the concepts that Kofi hopes to incorporate into local politics. To say that he wants to implement an exact model would be a stretch but his vision of good government is much more in line with Bhutanese leaders than the leaders who consistently make headlines.This type of thinking is in direct contrast with the way most governments operate today. Especially in the past few years and especially in California government is viewed through a fiscal lens. The GNH concept is unconventional. It concerns itself not with money but with joy.”My priority is to add value to everybody that I meet or see says Kofi, adding, I want to add value to the city of Malibu.”The ways in which he plans to do this are varied but Kofi who is also a successful record producer says “my whole goal is to bridge the gap between the wealthy and those in the entertainment business and what is happening in their backyard.”While there is no doubt that the wealthy in Malibu donate their money to a variety of causes Kofi would like to see more of those funds directly supporting local people and local government.”Most of the people that I know send their kids to high schools outside of Malibu to get a better education he observes. But he insists it does not have to be that way.Recently, he helped organize a fundraiser for Malibu High School that he says raised over half a million dollars in one weekend.” The event included a silent auction and performances by big-name local talent of which Malibu has no shortage.Kofi who has lived in Malibu for 21 years is also concerned about the environment. As part of his campaign he recently hosted a forum to discuss various environmental issues facing the city.Speakers included Joe Edminston executive director of the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy David Algood of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters and Martin Schlageter with the Coalition for Clean Air.The forum drew a diverse crowd including residents local vendors and several other council candidates. Its purpose was to start a conversation within the community about issues ranging from air quality and overnight camping to the perception of Malibu beyond its borders.”It is only through collaboration that humans have impact over time said forum host Gregory Wendt, whose blog Sustainable Wealth” offers ideas for building a prosperous economy while remaining environmentally aware and responsible.Kofi embraces collaboration he says because “everyone’s happiness is linked together.”He is already putting this mentality to use in his work with the Oneness Village which hosts the website IDontNeedItYouCanHaveIt.com. This online community allows for anyone to post a valuable item that they no longer need. Then others can search the listings for items they will be able to use all for free.By emphasizing a collective happiness Kofi hopes to be a figure that will inspire everyone with a special eye on younger generations.”The youth is indifferent because their parents are indifferent he says, which is a cycle he hopes to break. I want to invigorate them.”Kofi’s own story may be enough to invigorate some. Born in Ghana he has one name by birth. From there he went on to live in 25 countries. In the United States he obtained a bachelors degree from Tennessee State University and then received his master’s from Vanderbilt all by age 21.To create real change he insists “all it takes is one voice.””If one voice can change a room it can change a city. And if it can change a city it can change a nation. And if it can change a nation he says, then it can change the world.”He maintains however that “you cannot make changes without celebrating.”It is for this reason that his environmental forum included live music along with food home-cooked by his sister niece and friends.When people come together in celebration they get to know each other. And when this happens they are better able to understand one another Kofi believes. While political connections drive government the connections that we make as people seem to be widely overlooked in policymaking. This is wrong says Kofi. In fact he thinks the connections between people are the ones that matter most. These are the connections he hopes to foster in Malibu and around the world.He garners support from those who would like to see the same connections being made. A mother on her way to pick up the kids from school stops by his house asking to take a couple more signs to put up around her neighborhood.A young couple their daughter running around barefoot works diligently at Kofi’s environmental forum to get people informed about the importance of buying local produce that is sustainable. They are informed excited and waiting for someone just like Kofi to be a voice for what they view as important.His detractors are skeptical. Even if they like him and what he stands for they do not think that Kofi alone can transform Malibu politics.
At the coffee shop a man greets Kofi with a smile and asks him to sit down for a bit of political talk. The man happens to be a very wealthy Malibu resident with strong opinions about the upcoming election.
He asks Kofi why he is running for council. Without waiting for the answer he launches into a speech about how Kofi will never get anything done even if he does get elected. The man reminds him that the name of the game is three votes and asks Kofi how he plans to get around those on the council that will not be swayed by his unique way of thinking.
“It has to start somewhere Kofi states simply, a smile on his face.