Create Now - Transforming LIves Through Arts Mentoring
September 2011
Milestones
Ralphs
Donate Now
About Create Now
Services Galore
Magazine Workshop Celebration
ZAM FEST
Thanks to Kaiser!

Balloons27,000 Youth Reached in 15 Years!


Create Now is proud that  we have provided our arts programs to over 27,000 of the most vulnerable kids in our community. Thank you for your support!
Ralph's

 

Time to renew your Ralph's Community Contribution...    

 

Please consider joining Ralphs Community Contribution. It's so easy! Just visit ralphs.com 

to create an account and select Create Now as your favorite charity. Then shop, swipe your card, and troubled children will be automatically served.

Thanks to those of you already enrolled. All participants are required to re-register, so please

click on this link and update your profile.

Create Now needs your support. Every penny counts so please click here to donate online, or send your contribution to: 1611 S. Hope Street, Suite # E, Los Angeles, CA  90015.
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 27,000 of these vulnerable kids through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs and services.   

Services Galore for At-Risk Kids

In addition to our creative arts mentoring programs, we send out regular notices about jobs, internships, scholarships and free resources that reach tens of thousands of youth in our network of more than 1,000 agencies (shelters, group homes, detention facilities, special ed schools, etc.) located throughout Southern California.

Demond and computerCreate Now recently promoted a Youth Workforce Training Certificate Program at Children's Institute, as well as family therapy for participants on a TV show, workshops for kids who want to start a nonprofit organization, competitions in all the diverse arts, plus free backpacks with school supplies.

We provide unique opportunities for businesses and individuals to give back by donating materials and services to the most disadvantaged kids right in their own neighborhood!

Donors receive a tax deduction and the neediest children benefit directly. Contact us at (213) 747-2777 or email [email protected] if you'd like to contribute.

Create Now also provides opportunities to become a General Mentor by helping youth with basic social and life skills, assisting with academics and parenting, taking mentees on fun outings and becoming a close friend.

JoyWe set up a mentoring relationship between Joy Wassel and Georgetta, the 19-year-old mother of adorable Jaliyah, age 2. Georgetta has been in the foster system her entire life after her mother left her in a trash dumpster when she was born. She said, "I was shocked when I found out Joy wanted to mentor me because I thought nobody cared. I feel like I've got a mother or grandmother now."

Joy said, "Georgetta is a warm and responsive young woman. She teaches me a lot about the prejudices I never knew I held about young people who have grown up 'in the system.' I hope that she's learning as much from me as I'm learning from her."

Read more 

Magazine Workshop at CII a Success!

During August, Create Now collaborated with the Children's Institute (CII) at their new Otis Booth Campus to provide a dozen middle-school kids the chance to create their own magazine. The results are fantastic as youJustine and kids can see if you click here to download the magazine.

The kids made posters of their poems using colorful markers, beads and other arts supplies that Create Now provided. Our culminating presentation enabled the students to stand in front of a crowd to share their writing with their families and friends at a festive celebration of their accomplishments. They loved their gift bags with special goodies and especially our unique Certificates of Completion. 

Create Now mentor Justine Cogan said, "It was great to see the students open up. I'm really proud that they all worked to put CII readingeverything together on a deadline - and we have a great magazine to show for it!"

CII Director of Youth Services, Argeliz Ortiz said, "I was surprised and proud that youth read their peers' work in front of their friends and family! Not only were they courageous for writing such imaginative pieces, but they were extra brave for reading aloud to an audience." 

Artwork by Children's Institute Kids

Posters by Children's Institute Students

ZAM FEST - Save the Date

ZAM FESTWe're excited to be partners with ZAM FEST, a new culture-fusion festival for "now" generation families that will take place on Saturday, October 15th from 10 am to 5 pm at Marina Green Park in Long Beach. There will be lots of exciting activities all day long, including live bands, Human Hamster Balls, a Zip Line, arts projects, DJ "scratch" and much more; even a Flash Mob with kids from Children's Institute. Come join us at our booth where we'll be drumming and decorating special address books. All the proceeds from ZAM FEST will help Create Now to bring our creative arts mentoring programs to more vulnerable kids, so come join us! You can buy tickets here.

Thanks to Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

Kaiser PermanenteWe are very grateful to Kaiser Foundation Hospitals of Los Angeles for their generous grant to provide our "Create A Mural Now" workshop at the entrance to Phoenix House in Lake View Terrace. Thanks to their support, teenage substance abusers at this facility will have the opportunity to design and create a beautiful mural with the theme of "Recovery" that will inspire thousands of people with positive images of overcoming addiction for many years to come.