2013 Masthead Image with Content
June 2013
Please Donate?
Team One
Volunteer Spotlight
About Us
Create A City Now
Christine's Story
Guitar Finale at Studio
Remembering Melissa
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Make a Difference 

 

More than 90 cents of every dollar goes directly to our therapeutic arts programs.  

Click here to donate or contact us at: (213) 747-2777.

Team One
We're very grateful to the employees at Team One in L.A. for their drive to collect loads of new arts supplies for our youth!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Benson Riseman

Benson Riseman joined our Board of Directors in March 2013 and he has been very active ever since. He currently serves as the Interim Vice-Chair.   

 

Benson has been helping Create Now to grow with his many skills as the Co-Founder of Green Dot Corporation, where he was the Executive VP of Retail Strategy.  

 

Prior to that, Benson enjoyed a 20-year
career in radio broadcasting for companies like  Metro Networks, Westinghouse, CBS and RKO.  

 

We're very grateful for Benson's support!  

ABOUT US
Create Now is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996. Our mission is to transform the lives of youth in need through arts mentoring and experiences.

Our charity serves vulnerable kids who have been abused, neglected, abandoned and orphaned, homeless, runaways, throwaways, teen parents, victims of domestic violence, children of prisoners, substance abusers, gang members or incarcerated.

In the past 17 years, we have reached more than 30,000 of these troubled youth through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs and services.
Create A City Now

 

We're excited about our newest program: Create A City Now, initiated in partnership with MPOWR, Kaiser Permanente's Educational TheatreWatts Kaiser 2 program. We are providing four visual arts sessions using recyclable materials at two schools: James Madison Middle School in North Hollywood with artist Anne Baumgarten, and also Compton Elementary School located in Watts with artist Ryan Bolton.

   

Youth are collaborating to design healthy cities by using re-purposed supplies. This is a hands-on building experience, with the emphasis on various design principles like shape, texture, line and form. The students, ages 11-14, learn about city planning, architecture, ecology and government. Create A City Now also prevents bullying and builds teamwork.

Nirek, age 12, said, "It makes me want to grow up and build my own car shop so I can help people." Jayla, 11, remarked, "Recycling is really important to me now. I don't want to throw anything away." Juan Jesus, age 12, Kaiser City NoHoexclaimed, "It's been so much fun. It's my favorite of all the activities!"

We're expanding Create A City Now into a 12-session program that can be held after school or as a supplement to Math, Social Studies and History classes. Our interactive workshop engages students. It introduces them to diverse careers and stimulates their fertile imaginations as they explore how to create now.

Learn more 

Christine's Story

Christine witnessed her mother dying from a heroin overdose when she was only 5 years-old. She spent her youth in the foster care system, living in over a dozen places. She was suicidal, cutting herself and even drinking bleach. Christine was always in trouble with the law.

She joined Create Now in 2007 while she was incarcerated at Central Juvenile Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. Christine participated in a Drumming Workshop with Mark Schulman and we invited the kids to perform. She took us up on the offer and has been part of our "family" ever since.

Take a minute to watch Christine's story.
Christine's Story
Christine's Story
Guitar Workshop Culminates at Our Studio

 

Create Now congratulates Sarah, Beatriz, and Jazzmine from Maryvale for completing a 12-week Guitar Workshop and recording their songs in our new Create Now Studio.

 

Not only did they Maryvale Recording 3record their guitar parts, but each of them bravely sang along to complete a produced song. The girls took away recordings of their own interpretations of Lenka's "The Show," Coldplay's "Yellow" and the Lumineers "Hey Ho."

 

For some of them, it was a challenging experience, but they overcame their fears and gained new self-esteem and confidence. We rewarded them with gift bags of goodies.

 

Maryvale Recording 2Teaching artist Kalla Vavra prepared the girls for the session, which was conducted by our ace engineer, Erich Gobel, who once again volunteered his very valuable time.

 

Create Now thanks the Redducs Foundation for bringing so much joy to these young ladies.

Follow-Up on Benefit in Memory of Melissa Rourke

 

Melissa RourkeWe're very grateful to the friends and family of artist Melissa  Rourke who hosted a memorial event downtown at The Hive Gallery on May 18th. They generously donated more than $3,000 that was raised in Melissa's honor after she passed away from lung cancer.  

Not only will this money help us to buy essential supplies for our arts mentoring programs, but the event also gave several youth from Casa Libre the opportunity to have their artwork exhibited. Thank you to everyone who contributed!