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TAMPA BAY • FEBRUARY 23-24 2026

This FINAL encore experience will be unlike any other. Because like everything we do, it's been "reimagined" from beginning to end. It's not a virtual or hybrid event. It's not a conference. It's not a seminar, a workshop, a meeting, or a symposium. And it's not your typical run-of-the-mill everyday event crammed with stages, keynote speeches, team-building exercises, PowerPoint presentations, and all the other conventional humdrum. Because it's up close & personal by design. Where conversation trumps presentation. And where authentic connection runs deep.

An Act Of DOG As An Act Of GOD?

painting-brush-art-artist

“I gave them my all, and they gave me back my life.”

–Mark Barone

“As you sow, so shall you reap…” a quote from the King James Version of the Bible, Epistle to the Galatians, 6.7, has a strong message of karma.  It means consequences of actions are in proportion to intentions.  The seeds you have sown may be your children; your future.

Have you heard the saying, “An Act of God?”  What about “An Act of Dog?”  What do art and compassion have to do with either phrase concerning man’s-best-friend?  This interview illustrates how painting with a purpose can save a pet’s life, improve our world, and create a better future for our children, one gentle stroke at a time.

Studies cited in Stanford Social Innovation Review and Prezi states artists have a powerful medium for reporting on the consciousness of our civilization.  By combining the parallel pathways of art and compassion, a powerful engine for social change can be created.

Mark Barone and Marina Dervan create art work that saves lives every day, because animal lives matter, too.

Marina is a twenty year veteran of coaching corporate executives from Wall Street to Continental Europe.  However, her most recent endeavor is one from the heart as co-founder of the charity An Act of Dog.

Charity founder and artist Mark Barone and Marina created the working, interactive Museum of Compassion where children can expression their passion and follow their path of emotional self-discovery concerning all acts of love and atrocities in society, but especially those for and against animals.

“All children are born artists,” Picasso said.  Marina and Mark agree.   

As a narrative painter for thirty-five years, Mark never had an interest in painting pretty wall art.  His work always had a purpose and a spiritual foundation focused on the struggles of the human condition.  Now it impacts change for animal conditions.

Mark’s personal story of redemption includes two cherished dogs, Santina and Rudy.  It is the power of dog-love that powers Mark’s paint brushes and Marina’s media engagements.

READ MORE AT WOMEN’S VOICES MAGAZINE

Kat O'Keefe-Kanavos
Kat O'Keefe-Kanavoshttp://kathleenokeefekanavos.com/
Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is the award-winning author of Surviving Cancerland, and co-author of Dreams That Can Save Your Life. She’s a three-time cancer survivor, and co-publisher/editor of WEBE Books Publishing. Her dreams diagnosed her illness as seen on Dr. Oz, Doctors, NBC News, American Express Open, in Newspapers and magazines. She’s a Contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul, TV/Radio Host/Producer- Dreaming Healing on DV7Radio/TV Network, Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod™, Kat Kanavos Show, Internationally Syndicated Columnist in BIZCATALYST 360°, Dream Columnist in Positive Tribe Magazine, and Desert Health Magazine, Keynote Speaker, Performance Coach who taught Special Ed & Psychology @USF, and Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy and Spiritual guidance. She is co-author to the inspiring books; Chaos to Clarity: Sacred Stories of Transformational Change and Crappy to Happy: Sacred Stories of Transformational Joy

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5 CONVERSATIONS

  1. how funny – I just picked that exact quote

    “All children are born artists,” Picasso said.

    In three weeks time I will be publishing an article on visual thinking – and that thought opens up the piece – but I sbin’t have the quote … I do now – and in the article – I will link back to this article –

    thank you

    • jphilpin, Great minds think alike and the Universe is always connecting them. So glad you found your quote in this article and thank you for linking back to it. I will watch for your article. Visual thinking sounds like an amazing topic. As a 3x Breast Cancer Survivor whose dreams diagnosed the illness doctors missed, I’m all about dreams. Would you say visual-thinking is similar to daydreaming?

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