People do business with people they know.

The Alhambra Chamber of Commerce makes it easy to meet new

business contacts every month at its Business After Hours Mixers.

 Wednesday, April 24

 Thursday, April 18, noon - 1:30 p.m.

Century 21 Earnest Realty

"Real Estate in Today's Market"

Learn more about the real estate market we face today. 

Presented by

 Every third Wednesday of the month

through October

By Michael Dergar, founder and president

Three years ago, I had the pleasure of co-founding the Academy

of Special Dreams Foundation whose mission is to increase public awareness, recognition, and appreciation of the creative talents of people with disabilities by providing opportunities that encourage, promote, and showcase their artistic expressions. This mission stems from our belief that all persons, regardless of disability, should have equal opportunities to express their talents and to be successful

in the Arts.

At the core of the academy's mission is the continued sponsorship for more than 70 adult artists with disabilities by showcasing their artistic talents in visual art, creative writing, photography, and music on our Web site, www.specialacademy.org. Our Web site helps make dreams come true for many of our artists by producing their first-ever virtual art gallery exhibition, such as Deborah Gallardo, a 60-year-old working artist born with cerebral palsy whose dream is to own a home where she

can rent rooms to other disabled adults.

This year, many of our artists from the academy participated in more than 12 art exhibitions at several locations including our exhibition at the Riverside Art Museum for our proposed "Wheels Up" art exhibition featuring the art work of four artists who use wheelchairs, including Alhambra artist Todd Tostado.

Another core program of the academy is our financial support of artists with disabilities who are either pursuing their studies in art or advancing their careers in art. Thanks to the generosity of our many individual contributors, this year we awarded five college scholarships and

cash grants.

The academy will continue providing support for the special needs communities in other ways. One example is our collaboration with the Special Education Department of a high school in the San Gabriel Valley where we implemented, for the second consecutive year, the Academy Art Club, which provided art workshops for special needs students and their families and caregivers.

We have many goals to accomplish this year, including an open-call for fledgling filmmakers to participate in "Vive The Special DREAM Film Festival," which will be held in the fall.

For more information, contact Jerry J. Ruiz, director of administration, at JJR@specialacademy.org or 323-253-7380.