In 58 days, something potentially powerful will occur: The World Wide Moment happens on 09/09/09 at 9:09. Sign up and mark your calendars.

Here is what Brett Brownell, Worldwide Moment’s Founder, has to say about the event and organization:

In 2002 at the age of 23 I was living in Los Angeles, hoping for an Aha Moment. I was a recent college graduate, very appreciative for the opportunity to attain a higher education, but I felt like a wanderer with no direction or destination. I was “getting by” working as a restaurant delivery driver and a production assistant on T.V. commercials. But something wasn’t right.

So I started volunteering.

The organization was called P.A.T.H. (People Assisting the Homeless). At first I helped in the office, stuffing envelopes and helping answer the phones. It was menial, but at least I felt something.

One night I attended the grand opening for P.A.T.H.’s beautiful new building off the 101 highway. Staff and friends joined current and former homeless residents in a celebration. I helped set up the event by aligning chairs and setting out snacks and drinks. Then I noticed a woman hanging photographs.

Where the walls had been plain, they were suddenly brought to life by these stunning framed images of the residents who lived in P.A.T.H. building.

“Did you take these?,” I asked.

“Some of them. Yes,” she said. “I’m part of a photography group that volunteers our services to P.A.T.H.”

I had found my Aha Moment.

I joined the group, called The Human Essence Photography Group, and photographed special events and holiday gatherings for organizations, schools, and churches around Los Angeles. While photographing these events I noticed the families and communities were at peace together, even if they were struggling individually. Plus, I knew they would always have photographs to reflect on each special occasion. It was the type of gratification I had been seeking.

Then, during one photography group meeting, our president asked each of us to submit an idea for an assignment. I suggested we all take a photograph at the same moment no matter where we were in the city. I wanted to create the sense of community between us as photographers as I had observed between the families and communities we photographed. Plus, I wanted to capture the diverse points of view Los Angeles had to offer at any given moment.

I wasn’t sure if anyone would remember to take a photograph, or if they’d even want to. But the following week the entire group of eight photographers showed up at the meeting, with their photographs in hand from the specified moment. We all shared in the excitement of seeing the city from someone else’s point of view. It was eye-opening and exciting. I wanted to try it again with even more people next time.

And thus, Worldwide Moment was born.

Since then, Worldwide Moment has survived and grown with minimal resources, thanks to a corps group of passionate international citizens. Last year 270 people from 20 countries took part in our simultaneous photography project for peace. We now have thousands of supporters on Facebook and Twitter from all over the world, and this year we aim to have someone from every country involved, which is no easy task.

So what we need as we approach this year’s Worldwide Moment on 09.09.09+09GMT@09:09 is your help. Whether you make a donation to help fund our website and promotional efforts, or simply ask your friends, family, and community to pledge to participate and sign our email list, I hope you’ll be involved this year.

Imagine the people who could participate. Imagine the countries that could be represented. Imagine the photographs. Imagine the impact.

We now have this website to serve as the hub for Worldwide Moment. It is a very exciting day for us, and I expect the next 60 will be even more so.

Thank you for your support, wherever you are in the World.

www.worldwidemoment.org