The Ascent :: Art from Ashes
Youth empowerment through creative expression,
connection and transformation
Greetings! 
The changes you'll notice in our communication reflect the dynamic transformation that is and will continue to happening at our agency. AfA has accomplished so much in the past 10 years, and 2014 will reflect both those accomplishments and the vision for the next 10 years. So...expect some changes to our marketing and communications! Starting with our newsletter. Enjoy.
Shiloh-youth
Shiloh Michels, 17
3-Minute Poem: If Only You Would Listen

牋牋牋 Dear Mother, Mother.
牋牋牋 Have you ever heard me cry?
牋牋牋 Scream to myself late at night?
牋牋牋 Do you even know that I am gay?
牋牋牋 Will you accept me anyway?
牋牋牋 All I want to do is run away.
牋牋牋 Forget everything that you say.
牋牋牋 Sing a song I once heard.
牋牋牋 Maybe it will ease the pain.
牋牋牋 Maybe we'll find out another day.
牋牋牋 Before it becomes too late.

AfA Interview with Shiloh

"In the workshops, everyone opens up to each other because we don't have to be the person that others "expect" us or need us to be. We can just be ourselves and support each other."

AfA: I understand that you are an intern from the CEC executive internship program for graduating seniors. What made you decide to choose Art from Ashes as the place to gain professional experience for class credit?

Shiloh: My teacher was aware of my interest in the performing arts and the psychology profession and thought it would a good fit.

AfA: What career field are you going into?

Shiloh: I hope to pursue my interest in music as a producer and develop my interest in psychology. I would like to teach psychology someday. Working with AfA has really opened my eyes to what youth today are dealing with in their lives, and I hope to use my interest in psychology to teach young people that they are not alone in what they are experiencing.

AfA: Has working with AfA changed your perspective on the issues that youth are facing in society today?

Shiloh: Definitely. I didn't realize the problems that youth are experiencing in the community. There are kids that want help, but there aren't enough programs out there to serve them.

Goodbye to a dear friend and AfA advocate
Vernon Breit
This past month Vernon Breit suffered a heart attack and was gone... too fast, too soon. Vern not only was a strong supporter of Art from Ashes and a Dylan Thomas member for years, he also was the father of our own wonderful Anna-Liisa Breit, long-time volunteer, donor and events coordinator.

At his memorial, I read a poem I'm pretty sure he would have appreciated. I've included a link here: You Want A Physicist to Read At Your Funeral by Aaron Freeman.

Those who would like to donate in Vern's honor can do so here or by clicking on his photo. 
Note from Catherine :: Faith, Hope and Love 
Catherine2013
Last month, like most, held a celebration of joy, the pain of loss, sudden challenges, the love of service, and the fellowship of people who care about each other and the work we do. Depending on the story we're telling ourselves, it can be easy to focus on one to the exclusion of the others. Yet all are true, and all delicately co-exist.

It was extremely difficult to face the deaths of wonderful people this agency cared about, Vernon Breit and Voleena Reed, mother of poet Carson Reed. There also was the excitement of celebrating 10 years  Art from Ashes has been serving the community, and a check ceremony from SCFD -- funding specifically for the arts and sciences. Challenges are always there, part and parcel of what we love: the youth and programs we provide. Then there are the people with whom we serve...

This month AfA is happy to report two new members of the team: Rick Strandlof, writer for BuzzFeed, is our new communications and social media guy, and Aimee Eddins, trained in mechanical engineering, non-violent communication, and various dance disciplines, who also is a program facilitator, will manage organizational strategies and systems.

We'd love you to bring your gifts and skills to AfA as donor, volunteer, board member, advisory board member, facilitator, or encourager (for those aforementioned challenges).

We'll be on TV Tomorrow! 
In September, PJ and I were featured on 9News Colorado & Company (see the video here), and we've been invited back! You can watch Wolf Girl and me live this Tuesday morning at 10 am or we'll post the link here after tomorrow.

And don't forget Colorado Gives Day and our holiday party coming up on Tuesday, Dec. 10th. We'd love to see you there. Details below. 
HI! Messages from the Staff
Lewis taking photos Aimee Eddins Rick Strandlof
[from Right to Left]
Click on their photos to hear what the staff have to say about Youth Programs and Volunteer News (Jessica Fitzgerald); Program Evaluations (Lewis Lease); Agency Operations (Aimee Eddins); & Social Media (Rick Strandlof).  
In This Issue
Videos of Performances at the Art from Ashes 10th Anniversary Soirée
Devon Adams at the Art from Ashes 10th Anniversary Soir??e
Former Columbine student, Dev Adams, on the power of the Phoenix Rising poetry program in her life after the tragedy.
Solomon Muhammad at AfA's 10th Anniversary Soir??e
18-year-old youth intern, poet and board member Solomon Muhammad at AfA's 10th Anniversary Soiree
For more performance videos, visit our YouTube site:
3-Minute Youth Poem
Wounded Soldier  
by Bishop, 17 (Denver Public Schools)

Love at first sight is real. I've been there, but with a smile on my face,  
it doesn't last that long for me.  
I've fallen in love about five times,
and every time  
I have been broken up
into thousands of pieces  
that are impossible to put back together.

I am a wounded soldier, and love is everybody's battlefield.

They say keep your friends close
and your enemies closer.
Well love is my best friend.
When love comes around me
I tell it, "I hate you." 
And love tells me with a smile,
"Bishop, you were born with me,  
you will live with me,
and you will die with me."

The only way I can let love go
is by playing every female I date.  
That sounds all good
because rappers do it,  
but I was not raised like that.  
So I guess like a man,
 I keep striving to be happy in life.  
I continue to walk down these endless fantasies of everlasting love.  
But I feel like my past shows
that will never happen on earth.  
I'm not talking down to myself.
I feel like that is love's job to do that.  
But at the same time,
where would we be without love? Nowhere.

If love did not exist, then God would not have died for me.  
He would have not died for you.  
He would not have died for us.  
If I didn't have love in my heart,
I would be in a lot of trouble right now.

But as soon as I have no one,
that is the end.  
As soon as everyone who used to care,  
tells me they don't care or need me,  
I will do the honor of jumping
in front of a moving object.  

But... I know that would never happen, because in my mind and in my heart and when I'm supposedly alone, God will be right there showing me the way.
Help Struggling Youth Find Meaning Through Creativity
Colorado Gives
Adult Writing Workshops
The next Adult
Introductory Series starts Jan 15th, every Wednesday night from 6 to 7.30 pm through Feb 19th, 2014.
Click here
for more information and to sign up.

Also, you can purchase an Adult Workshop gift certificate here as a great gift for a loved one (good throughout 2014)! We'll send a lovely card in your name. 
Catherine O'Neill Thorn,
Executive Director
303.837.1550
cogives
Colorado Gives Day 2013
Join us on Tuesday, Dec 10 from 7 to 9 pm* for our annual holiday party at the Appaloosa Grill on 16th Street between Glenarm and Welton. Appetizers will be donated by Appaloosa Grill and there will be a DJ, an amazing performance by the Phoenix Rising youth and some of our guest poets, as well as an open mic.

The party will be held on Colorado Gives Day, a day when all of Colorado is encouraged to donate to nonprofits whose work they support. During that 24 hour period, all donations made through the website ColoradoGives.org will be increased due to the generous support of a FirstBank incentive fund.

Here for more info...  

 

*If you are a current Dylan Thomas Society member, please join us early from 6-7 pm for VIP hour, featuring thank you's, awards and a special youth presentation. And there's always time to become a Dylan Thomas Society member! Donate $1,000 or more annually or sign up for $100/month recurring donations here! 

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