Create Now - Transforming LIves Through Arts Mentoring
January 2011
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About Us
Artistic Journeys
Open House

Balloons25,000 Youth Reached in 15 Years!


Create Now is proud that as of December 31, 2010, we have provided our arts programs to 25,020 of the most vulnerable kids in our community. Thank you for your support!
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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, 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 25,000 of these vulnerable kids through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs and services.
 

Young People Enjoy a Theatrical PerformanceArtistic Journeys

Each year, Create Now organizes cultural outings for thousands of high-risk and at-risk youth in Southern California through our Artistic Journeys program. These events include concerts, plays, museums, circuses and more at premiere venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, LACMA, the Ahmanson Theatre and Cirque du Soleil.

Many of these troubled kids live in isolation, afraid to venture out into the world because of the abuse they have had to endure, so we also bring them to sporting events where they are motivated to overcome their fears and explore the many exciting creative expressions taking place in our community.

Thank you card

Social workers, therapists, probation officers and other agency staff tell us that their youth are more focused and able to concentrate longer after attending our events. By exposing these kids to the arts, we help divert them from engaging in criminal activity and other negative behaviors. Plus, families can bond and replace bad memories with good ones.
 

Not only do we help theaters fill empty seats, but our youth use their creativity to make cards that express their appreciation, since most have never been taught to show gratitude. These cards also assist our contributors to raise funds for educational outreach, and show them directly how their ticket donations have impacted the kids.
 

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Open House a Big Success!

Main OfficeOn Saturday, January 15th, we launched our new office with an Open House and invited our board members and other volunteers, as well as kids that we serve and our partners. Everyone was impressed with our huge new space, the decor and vast storage room filled with arts supplies like musical instruments and all kinds of fun stuff.

There were some teenage mothers from New Beginnings Group Home in Riverside, including adorable baby Cheyenne. Several foster girls ages 6-9 were there from Maryvale. We gave all of the girls loads of books, CDs, DVDs, toys and other goodies to take away with them.

Juan Rosillo Our fabulous new neighbors also attended, and master artist Juan Rosillo led a printmaking workshop where the youth learned how to create art on linoleum. Mike Mallen taught them guitar, and Amanda McDermott guided the kids in an Arts and Crafts Workshop where they decorated wooden cigar boxes for "treasure chests," which are very useful considering how these children are often moved around to different group homes, foster families and shelters.

 

The kids had such a fantastic time that they didn't want to leave. In fact, they asked if they could return again, so we will be offering our Open Houses more frequently.

Thanks to Barefoot Wine & Bubbly for the champagne and O.N.E. drinks for their support!