The evening of May 1st at Ground ZeroA number of year ago I had a boss who would routinely consult her copy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in our staff meetings. Her favorite saying was, “In a time of peace, we need to prepare for war.” And we worked for an environmental nonprofit. Her perspective bugged me because I always thought Sun Tzu got it wrong; what we really need to do, particularly in this day and age with fighting seemingly everywhere, is to prepare for peace in a time of war.
With Osama bin Laden now gone, we can finally turn our sights to preparing for peace. To be sure the war is not over, not by a long shot. As good as it feels to celebrate the end of Bin Laden’s reign, there are still too many others who wish to do us harm. We still need to remain vigilant, on guard, and careful. That, sadly, may never change.
What we can do is turn our sights toward our sights toward the Middle East and begin to truly rebuild relations. Justice has been served, and with justice comes the beginning of the healing process. Though we have been celebrating the end of bin Laden here for over 24 hours, we must remember that many people in the Middle East, many Muslim Americans are also celebrating. They too can begin healing – this war has happened to them, too, and that was not of their choosing. It was the choosing of a vicious, sick man who thankfully is no longer among us.
My sister, Weez, put up a Facebook status yesterday that really struck me as the most beautiful set of words I heard about the situation and our emotions surrounding it:
May 1st Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep
one less terrorist this world does keep
with all my heart I give my thanks
to those in uniform regardless of ranks
You serve our country and serve it well
with humble hearts your stories tell
so as I rest my weary eyes
while freedom rings our flag still flies
You give your all, do what you must
with God we live and in God we trust
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
2 thoughts on “Beginning: Preparing for Peace in a Time of War”
Christa,
Yes, there is too much violence in our world today. How sad.
I prefer peace and harmony, personally, and I hope and wish and pray for the end of conflict.
“An eye for an eye and the world will go blind,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi.
I think we can begin internally. Each person can attempt to take the journey within. We can change from the inside-out.
Outside-in: we can contribute more toward charitable causes and inter-faith dialogue and common weal. We need to build bridges between communities and try to find unifying force in a diverse society. Thanks for sharing your ideas here. Cheers.
“An eye for an eye and the world will go blind,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi. – Gandhi was my kind of leader. We need his wisdom now more than ever. Thanks for writing that quote – so simple and so powerful.
Christa,
Yes, there is too much violence in our world today. How sad.
I prefer peace and harmony, personally, and I hope and wish and pray for the end of conflict.
“An eye for an eye and the world will go blind,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi.
I think we can begin internally. Each person can attempt to take the journey within. We can change from the inside-out.
Outside-in: we can contribute more toward charitable causes and inter-faith dialogue and common weal. We need to build bridges between communities and try to find unifying force in a diverse society. Thanks for sharing your ideas here. Cheers.
LikeLike
“An eye for an eye and the world will go blind,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi. – Gandhi was my kind of leader. We need his wisdom now more than ever. Thanks for writing that quote – so simple and so powerful.
LikeLike