Take a walk through Bucks County and the extended region and chances are, you will see someone wearing a colorful and whimsical pin with an important message, such as “Are you registered to vote?”, “Love is Love”, “Black Lives Matter”, as well as “Global Peace.” With the current presidential campaign in full swing, she has added to her line which encourages people to vote for the Harris/Walz ticket. Her pins have a distinctive style that those in the know recognize as the work of LisaBeth Weber. She and I are part of several overlapping soul circles, all revolving around the importance of creating a peaceful, vibrant and sustainable planet. Singer-songwriter, freelance writer/marketing consultant, artist, and activist, LisaBeth is passionate about what she does, and it is evidenced in the quality of her work. I’ve seen her in action, at the retirement tribute concert for beloved folk music aficionado, WXPN host, and longtime Philadelphia Folk Festival emcee Gene Shay who sadly succumbed to COVID in 2020. She was part of an event in Doylestown a few years back that was a fundraiser for the Playing for Change Foundation (of which she was a board member) that included a songwriting workshop. Such fun to be involved with that collaborative effort!
You are a multi-faceted multi-tasker. How would you describe all of the plates you spin?
It’s a matter of balance. I strive for balance in all things — life, work, creativity, music, art, giving back, and more. I’m not always successful at it, but I do my best. I wear many hats and do many things, and I’ve been getting better at not worrying about what others may think. In my work, I’ve started describing it as two branches of a tree (one side is art/music, and the other is writing/marketing/consulting). There is a lot of crossover in what I do and there have been many moments when one aspect of my life and work cross-pollinates to the other. For instance, someone may know about my music, and then reach out when they need to hire a writer or consultant for their business because they remember that I do that too. Or they have one of my handmade pins and then find out I’m also a songwriter, and so on. It’s for those reasons and more that I don’t choose to choose one aspect of my life and work over the other. It can be tricky, but that’s life!
I understand that you wrote your first song at age five. What was it about and how did it come to you?
It was called, “Who Left the Ice Out?” and for the record, it was decades before the song “Who Let the Dogs Out” was written! It was a one verse song and I still remember it. I don’t quite recall how it came to me, but I think it was after seeing what happens to ice when it’s left out, LOL.
Who left the ice out?
Who left the ice out?
Not me, was it you?
Hey, maybe it was two!”
Not exactly lyrical brilliance, but it set the stage for songwriting later on in life!
Has creativity long been part of your life?
YES.
What inspires you to write a song, create art, do your freelance writing work?
It depends on what I’m working on. If I’m writing a song, it could be anything from being inspired by a muse in my life, to being inspired from a film, to being in a beautiful place, and so on. But most often, it’s a creative spark that just happens, sometimes without rhyme or reason (pun intended) and I get a thought which turns into grabbing my guitar and a journal or notebook, and if I’m lucky enough, it turns into a song.
If I’m creating art, it’s often the cause that evokes the art. For example, when I see a cause that’s important to me and others I respect, I may decide to create art (often a pin) about it. Sometimes this turns into a fundraiser. i.e. I did a piece of art for Ukraine and created a downloadable art fundraiser with it and raised over $14,000 for Direct Relief, an organization that was already on the ground in the early part of the war. I did a similar thing during early Covid, and have also made pins in the past to help raise funds after natural disasters such as hurricanes, as well as after 9/11 when I designed and created a pin and raised funds for the Red Cross and for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, who sent teams of dogs up to NYC.
For my work in freelance writing and marketing consulting, I love the creative process in the writing that I do, whether it’s interviewing someone for an article, writing website copy, or consulting and idea-storming with a client. That’s the most fun part of the creative process, when I get to really dig in and consult with a client about their business and all the different directions they can go with it.
Lastly, I’ve noticed over the years, that creating art or writing a song has been a way for me to channel grief after a loss. It’s never, and I repeat NEVER contrived, as in I never sit down and think, “Oh I’m going to write a song about this tragic life moment.” But it just happens, and when it does, it helps me, and in turn it helps others. I have several songs that I’ve written out of grief yet the surprising thing is that each one is uplifting. I can’t really explain it beyond that, so I’ll share lyrics from the chorus of a song I wrote called Precious Jewel…
Your soul is still singing,
and the mountains still stand above.
The sun will rise every day,
and you will always be loved.
I discovered that you offered a TEDx talk back in 2013 called Creativity Beyond the Arts. Please tell us about it.
The TEDx talk came out of a time when I wrote extensively about creativity, which I hope someday to turn into a book. I started writing about it after having one too many people say similar things to me along the lines of, “You’re so lucky you’re creative. I’m not creative at all.” I would hear this over and over again, and I found myself countering with reminding the person that YES they are creative! I started seeing a disconcerting pattern; that people were inadvertently putting themselves down by saying they weren’t creative, and there was this repetitive implication that creativity was only associated with the arts. WRONG. I would say back to people that creativity is NOT confined only to the arts, not even a little bit. That teachers, and parents, and scientists, and engineers, and service workers, and geez Louise, EVERYONE is creative. In my mind, if you have a brain, you’re creative. We utilize creativity daily, it’s just that the word and concept for many is most often associated with the arts. So, I developed a way to talk about it, which in turn, became what would be my TEDx talk.
How do you use your talents in service to the world?
My mission in life is to make a difference while I’m here (and hopefully have an impact after that as well). Life is busy, but no matter what, it’s always been important to me to give back and volunteer, in whatever way I’m able to at any given time. In addition to politics and other immediate causes, I knew I wanted my next volunteer work to be something that would help animals. I love dogs and cats, and LOVE photographing them, so I came up with an idea — to provide volunteer photography to local rescues to help find forever homes for dogs and cats. It’s @puppydogskittycats on Instagram (follows are appreciated!). If anyone is associated with a local rescue and would like to request a photography session for the animals, please reach out.
Are you still involved with the Playing for Change Foundation?
I was on the board for six years, from 2014 to 2020. I’m not specifically involved at the moment, but I support the mission, and the people behind it. Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF) is the foundation wing of Playing for Change (PFC), that many people know for the music videos like Stand By Me, with musicians playing on it from all around the world. PFCF builds music schools in developing countries, for kids to have free access to music education. It was incredible to be a part of such a fantastic organization doing great work worldwide. I encourage people to check it out.
Stand By Me: https://youtu.be/Us-TVg40ExM
Your specially designed Cause Pins are displayed by folks in our community, but also have been worn by notables such as Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Madeleine Albright, Mia Farrow, and Blair Underwood. What is the purpose of the pins and how does it feel to have such prominent public figures wearing your pins over the years?
I’m honored that several public figures have worn my pins; it’s pretty special, and it feels good to know that they’re out there like that. It’s also special when anyone takes an interest and wants to wear a pin that I’ve made. I’ve been making them for over 30 years, and was first inspired after coming home from a rally and wishing I had gotten a pin. Then I thought, hmmm, I can make my own. That’s how it started. My pins spark conversation; and they’re a way for people to wear their heart on their sleeve so to speak, even though it’s really more like on their lapel. I’ve created pins for all kinds of causes I believe in, including women’s rights, animal welfare, voting, pride, climate change, social justice, and campaigns like what is happening right now.
With each new campaign, your Muse provides inspiration. I see that you have quickly stepped up and created Harris/Walz pins including Harris Walz 2024, Momala Kamala, Cats for Kamala and Dogs for Kamala. How are they being received? Have you sent any to their campaign?
I hadn’t been doing too much with pins recently, as I’ve been focusing on my freelance writing and marketing consulting work. But at a time like this, when democracy and more is on the line, it was time to step up and start designing. They’ve been well-received, and I just hope that everyone will do their part to get out the vote and volunteer to help with the effort. If anyone needs to register to vote or wants to check on their voter registration status, they can visit vote.gov
I haven’t sent my pins to the campaign, but I’m hoping that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will be in our area and maybe I can pass some along to them or get a chance to meet them!
What suggestions do you have to encourage people to be positive changemakers?
I think it is in everyone’s capacity to be a positive force in the world. It doesn’t take money; it doesn’t take having a big network; it begins with kindness and a willingness to want to help and give back. I would say start with what issues you feel passionate about and then look into how your skills and interests can play a part. Then go find an organization that resonates and look into how you can help.
Who inspires you?
My mom has always been my biggest inspiration. “The Sylvia” passed away in 2021 and I miss her every day. She taught me to stand up for myself, to be a strong woman, to not worry unnecessarily (I’m still working on that one), and a whole lot more. Mom also taught me three chords on the guitar when I was 13 years old and was my biggest influence in music as well. She sang and played guitar and had a trio in the 1950’s who sang for the troops at Fort Dix and more. As a single mom, she worked as a medical sales rep in all five boroughs of NYC in the 1970’s and was one of the very few women in that field. She was an early voice in my life for women’s rights, democratic causes, and doing the right thing.
What legacy would you like to leave?
As I mentioned earlier, to make a difference in this world. I would love to work out a way that long after I’m gone, that my art and my songs can still help raise funds for causes I believe in. I’m working on how to make that happen.
