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Contact us at
info@createnow.org
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Join us - $10 a month can transform a child's life
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Please consider joining us in transforming lives of vulnerable youth by donating $10 per month to help us ensure that we keep our valuable programs running. Automatic monthly deductions can be made thorough our secure website. Thank you for your generosity.
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Create Now is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996. Our mission is to transform the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through creative arts mentoring, education, resources and opportunities. The organization serves kids who have been abused, neglected, abandoned and orphaned (foster youth), are left homeless, runaways, teen parents, victims of domestic violence, children of prisoners, substance abusers, gang members or incarcerated. In the past fourteen years, we've reached over 20,000 of these vulnerable kids through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs and services.
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Ballet Brings Joy to Abused Kids Lindsey Bogan is a professional therapist for foster youth who are "aging out of the system." She wanted to share her passion for ballet with a group of vulnerable children. We referred her to Hillsides in Pasadena, which is a large group home for around 100 children ages 7-18 who have been removed from their families because of abuse, neglect and abandonment, or they're orphaned. Lindsey now teaches a Ballet Workshop there every Sunday morning. She bought her mentees ballet shoes and dance bags, which they loved decorating.
 Lindsey said, "Most of the youth with whom I work are transitioning out of foster care, group homes, or the juvenile justice system. I hear their stories of rough backgrounds, of being passed from one place to another and their struggle to even keep track of all the places they have lived. The people who were supposed to care for and protect them have treated them so terribly that their stories could rival the worst nightmare. I believe that ballet combined with the presence of a person who simply wants to bring out their creative side could make a positive difference in their lives."
"I like how you teach us how to play ballet. I really appreciate it. Thank you," said Jada, age 10.
Rehab Specialist Bridget Zamudio remarked, "The clients here use this Ballet Workshop as a coping mechanism and a healthy alternative, as well as an outlet. They're able to focus, so we thank you."
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"Create A Mural Now" Workshops
Our "Create A Mural Now" Workshops are so popular that we're now offering them to schools, community and religious centers, individuals and businesses -- anyone who would like to hire Create Now to bring this unique project to your group. We can also provide you with a number of talented youth and artists so that we can
customize this project to meet your needs
Taught by professional muralists who are experienced in working with youth, we educate students in how to work as a team to create a lasting story or message that will impact their community. This workshop is a deterrent for gang involvement and gives kids focus and direction, as well as motivation to stay in school.
 Students explore the history of murals, while learning about color mixing, brushwork and careers in the arts. Mathematical skills are enhanced. History and social studies lessons are reinforced. Kids appreciate the value of art vs. graffiti and how tagging destroys artwork. Every workshop culminates with a public unveiling, a party and gift bags for all youth who participate, as well as tickets to cultural events through our Artistic Journeys program.
Our "Create A Mural Now" Workshop follows California Content Standards. It is one of only 250 programs selected to be included in the Arts For All: L.A. County Arts Program Directory for grades 6-12.
We're thrilled about the "Create A Mural Now" Workshop that is currently taking place at Lennox Park, thanks to the support of Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, the LA County Arts Commission and the Department of Parks and Recreation.
 Artist Roger Dolin and his team are working with kids and other members of this community (that's located near LAX) to create a mural that's over 1,000 square feet long, portraying their vision of Lennox in the future. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project.
If you are interested in learning more about our special "Create A Mural Now" Workshops, give us a call at (213) 484-8500 or email info@createnow.org.
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 Thanks to the Department of Cultural Affairs
For the fourth straight year, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs has provided support to Create Now for our Take Heart program. Thanks to their generosity, we have been able to provide incarcerated teenage girls at Camp Scott with a unique Introduction to Art Workshop. In addition, we have been given a scholarship to attend the National Gang Conference in Anaheim so that we can promote the arts as a powerful tool for use in the prevention and intervention of gang recruitment. We greatly appreciate the support of the Department of Cultural Affairs. |
 Welcome to our VISTAS
Thanks to AmeriCorps, Create Now has been granted two full-time volunteers for one year starting on July 12, 2010.
Program Development Specialist Emily Schuck will be working with our partner Phoenix House to implement three Graphic and Web Design Workshops for 45 teenage substance abusers who will collaborate to create newsletters and websites. Emily will find jobs and internships for the students after they graduate.
Laura Kelly is our new Resource Development Specialist. She will be building our individual donor base, organizing special events and helping Create Now to raise funds so that we can maintain and expand our programs. We're delighted to have both of these VISTAS join our team!
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Thank you!
Thanks to you, Create Now programs prove that the arts can impact the lives of high-risk and at-risk
youth in ways that other intervention programs cannot.
Working together, we are transforming lives through creative arts!
Sincerely,
The Create Now Team
Phone: (213) 484-8500 Email: info@createnow.org Website: www.createnow.org
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