Create Now - Transforming LIves Through Arts Mentoring
September 2012
Mythic Challenges Award
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About Create Now
Students Picture Futures
ZAM FEST
Mythic Challenges logo

We are very honored that on September 22nd, Mythic Challenges, which is a unique curriculum developed by Create Now Founder and Executive Director Jill Gurr with mythology expert Pamela Jaye Smith and producer Brian Dyer, was awarded the "FutureVision Award" by the Center for Conscious Creativity at their Third Annual State of the Arts 2012 event, which took place at the fabulous Vortex Immersion Media Dome located at Los Angeles Center Studios.

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Create Now needs your help 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 sixteen years, we've reached more than 30,000 of these vulnerable kids through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs and services.   

Vulnerable Students Picture
Bright Futures

SEA Student display certificates Shaina Leis just completed an eight-week Life Skills workshop for juniors and seniors at the SEA (Soledad Enrichment Action) school in East Los Angeles, a charter continuation school for students who are not allowed at the regular high schools. Many are involved in gangs and are on probation.

 

Shaina guided them through lessons to build confidence and teamwork, identifying role models, clarifying values and goal-setting. She helped them learn how to make good decisions for their futures. The students found pictures and images to create "dream boards," visual collages of their dreams for the future.

 

Shaina said, "I think I opened their eyes to the possibilities that they have after graduation. We talked about things that they don't learn in the classroom that will prepare them for the future."

 

18-year-old Nicole declared, "Shaina made me see that pursuing a career as a make-up artist can really happen."

 

Another 18-year-old youth, Chris, said, "I have always known what I wanted to do when I grow up, but this class made it real. Now, I really know and I already picture it!"

 

SEA Student Dream BoardShaina plans to return to SEA for another workshop with more students later this Fall. Khristine Dougherty, a teacher at SEA remarked, "I am so pleased that our youth were able to explore their futures through the Create Now workshop. I am excited to have Shaina return."

 

We're also delighted that she's teaching the students there how to Create Now.

ZAM FEST

ZAM FEST 2012 was a hit for thousands on Sunday, September 23 at University High School in West Los Angeles. Parents flocked to the festival with young ones in tow to revel in dozens of creative kid-friendly activities under sparkling Southern California sunshine.

 

Families visited the Create Now booth to participate in arts and crafts, donating to our charity for the chance to paint and decorate gift boxes and toy maracas to take home as a souvenir of the day of fun.

 

Families mingle around the Create Now boothCreate Now thanks ZAM FEST for their continuing support through the festival. And special thanks to Wilson High School Key Club students and the Reddit volunteers for their help in making our craft booth a memorable experience for the kids.