Remembering ArtSkills 2000

Not widely known by most my Evanston friends is that in the Summer of 2000, I led one of the City of Evanston's summer youth employment projects: ArtSkills 2000.

The project introduced Evanston teens to the art and business of photography. Though we were headquartered at Chute Middle School where we hosted many photographers who came to share their expertise, it was just as likely to find us shooting pictures around the city, developing film and printing in Norris Center's darkrooms, scanning negs at Columbia College or at the Art Institute or Evanston Photographic,

The coaches encouraged the kids to express their personal vision through the lens of their camera while documenting and exploring their Evanston. The resulting images were as varied as the kids themselves.  Then-freshman Nick Cade's focus was on cafe life.  Then-senior Gwen McPherson focus was more personal. She shot a series of pictures of her cat Muffy. Mia Rollow shared a views of her room. Some images captured decisive moments such as a picture of a seagull in flight by Richard Hammell, which he nailed with a point-and-shoot no less. Some images were graphic and contrived like Kemone Hendricks’ "Up in the Sky', which she created by hanging a flower in a tree limb. (It's the first image displayed on this page.) Other participates include Kate Broitman, Ann Heindel, Nicole Newman, Michelle Ilme, Jonathan Payne, Tim Robinson Jr., Anthony Sanders, Quinn Stephens, Gabe Patay, Dominique Harrison, Dominique Cunningham, Justin Shields, Kenneth Coe Jr., Eric Edwards and Mort King II.

Later in the project all of Evanston was invited to get involved through a portrait shoot, Evanston People, that invited everyone associated with Evanston to pose for a picture.

The kids' ten weeks of work culminated in a group exhibition at Noyes Cultural Center. We displayed individual portfolios, a slide show and large prints which offered the public a unique perspective on Evanston and what some of its teens are about. 

Collaborating organizations included PICTURE THIS Projects and the Evanston Arts Council.  Participating coaches and speakers included Jennifer Keats, Shavan Spears, Matthew McNulty, Scott Strazzante, Jon Lowenstein, Tom Maday, John Brooks, Terrence James, Yvette Dostanti, Todd Heisler, Joel Lerner, Bob Quane, Saben Orr and George Pfoertner.

I have many fond memories from that project. Thank you all.

From top to bottom, images displayed here are by Kemone Hendricks, Dominique Cunningham and Justin Shields.

JOURNEY INSIDE THE UNIVERSE OF YOUR IMAGINATION with Mark Kistler July 25-29

This just in from our neighbor Robert Neustadt in Northfield...

If you've ever wanted to learn to draw, renowned author and TV host, Mark Kistler will be hosting a week-long cartooning workshop in Northfield.

When: Monday - Friday, July 25 - 29, 2011
5 Sessions per day: 9a-10a, 10:30 - 11:30a, Noon - 1:00, 1:30 - 2:30, 6:30 - 7:30 p Family Drawing Night

Where: Lutheran Church of Ascension (at the corner of Willow Rd. and Sunset Ridge), Northfield

Cost per session: $89/wk or $69/wk for siblings.

Mark claims anyone can learn to "draw in 3D" by adding depth and perspective.

He encourages kids to  translate their dreams and visions onto the page, linking right brain and left brain thinking.  The highly energetic Kistler appeared as "Commander Mark" on the PBS TV series "The Secret City" and later on "The Imagination Station."

It's an unforgettable week of laughs and skill building.

Sessions are held for everyone ages 5 and up.

For more info, drawing lessons and registration, go to www.Draw3D.com or call 800-431-6829.

.

2 tickets for $10 for FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA this weekend

This just in from Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre...

Early Bird 2 for 1 Special!
Arrive at the box office between
6:00-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 16
or
3:00-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 17
and receive two tickets for $10!

The Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes St.
Evanston
847.448.8254
Tickets: usually $10 in advance or at the door 

About the play: FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
By Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph. D.
Directed by Tim Rhoze

This autobiographical work follows Dr. Holland's powerful journey through poverty and abuse in the Jim Crow South, her role as an activist in the civil rights movement, academic achievement and triumph as a Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright. This play is filled with story and song.

Featuring Joi-Anissa Russell, Ebony Joy and Elana Elyce
Musical accompaniment by bluesman Vince Agwada

.

Support Power Paws for Kids in the Pepsi Refresh Project with a click

$5,000 grant to help expand Read to the Dogs program

This in from our neighbors Lida Liu and Bella...

Please vote for Power Paws for Kids in the Pepsi Refresh Project.

PPK provides animal-assisted therapy programs in the NW Indiana area. Pepsi's grant will help us expand our "Read to the Dogs" programs in the NW Indiana area and possibly to the greater Chicagoland area. 

Many kids struggle with reading and find that reading to a dog is much less intimidating and more relaxing than reading to their peers.  Power Paws has had much success in helping children improve their reading skills through participation in these programs.  The kids really enjoy reading to the dogs and the dogs love being read to as well.  Many of these dogs were rescued and are now proud therapy dogs making a difference in the community. 
   
Please help a great cause and remember you can vote everyday through July 31st! 

Please click here to vote: http://www.refresheverything.com/powerpaws.

You may also Text 107162 to Pepsi (73774) to vote from your mobile.

..........................................................

Power Paws for Kids, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

Lida Liu is the Manager of Social Media for Power Paws for Kids, a rock climbing instructor at the Evanston Athletic Club and, with her dog Bella (above), is a Coworking Evanston denizen.

.

Ten Online Do's and Don'ts for Jobseekers

by Nubia Dandridge, Jonathan Senecal, Amanda Pink, Jordan Burghardt and Karen Kring

On the afternoon of Tuesday, June 28, 2011, after the Youth Job Center of Evanston discussion at the Evanston Public Library about how to use social media to help find jobs, a few of us stayed late to assemble and share some key points from the conversation.

1) Search for yourself on Google and see how easily accessed your information is to strangers. Look for other people with the same name as you and what they are posting as well.

2) Watch out for the pictures and posts that you and others put on Facebook. Monitor photos you're tagged in and filter out the ones that may be inappropriate. Consider having a portrait made of yourself that gives a good first impression.

3) Don't use profanity or mention drug use or sex. Have an appropriate Facebook profile picture. No nudity.

4) Watch where you put your name. For example, don't create profiles everywhere or list your name on too many sites companies that may have access to that you'd not want to be associated with while looking for or maintaining a job.

4.5) Be cautious about your privacy settings on social media sites.

5) Beware of people who check you into places on Facebook.  As Daniel Schiller mentioned, you might not want some people to know too much about where you go and what you're doing.

6) Don't connect yourself with everything your friends do.

6.5) Post something positive on the "wall" of Facebook pages of organizations you'd enjoy working with or being associated with in some way, based on the kind of job you'd like to get.

7) Use Facebook status and notes to broadcast what you're interested in. Could post something like "Really interested in volunteering with an animal shelter this summer."

7.5) Create a Facebook "note", or a blog post for another site, that reflects your interests and integrity.

8) Even if you've only ever had one job, even as a volunteer, consider posting a profile for yourself on LinkedIn. Not only does it allow you to post past positions you've held, it allows you to post a narrative about yourself which you will allow potential employers to know more about you. LinkedIn is very popular with potential employers.

9) Find ways to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, as the old song goes.

10) "Like" the "Youth Job Center of Evanston" on Facebook.

.

Best Practices for being Green May 24

.

This just in from Business Alliance for a Sustainable Evanston (BASE)...

The Evanston business community or anyone wanting to be greener is invited to the next meeting of BASE.

Topic: Members' Best Practices

Research has found that 83% of consumers will choose greener products and companies. How can you become one of those companies?

Learn best practices from the NU Engineers For A Sustainable World and several BASE members who have taken steps to green their businesses.

When: Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Where: Tiny Dog Cupcake
616 Davis St.
Evanston, IL 60201 map
847-563-8680

For more info and to RSVP, message info [at] baseevanston.org.

.

Remembering Rona Lerner

.

Joel and I are remembering his mom today. It was five years ago this month that she'd left us. Here's the obit that ran in May 2007, with some embellishment.

Rona Lerner, Educator (and mom, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, gardener, neighbor...)

Rona Lynn Lerner, an Evanston resident, was the kind of teacher who didn't stop being an educator when the school day was done.

An educator and community activist, she taught 21 years at the Rudy Lozano School, 1424 N Cleaver St, Chicago.  She also co-founded the Evanston School Children's Clothing Association.

A passionate believer in the potential of every child, she devoted her life to knowing her kids, their families and their communities, said her son Joel Lerner of Skokie, a photographer for Pioneer Press. She specialized in teaching 4th and 5th grade science and rediscovered the delights of very young minds three years ago when she started teaching pre-K students, he said.  She was pleased to teach many children of former students in her new position.

For Mrs. Lerner, what other people discarded, be it an old detergent bottle or a plastic bag, became the stuff of arts and crafts and science projects, said her daughter, Elita Lerner, of Atlanta.

She would turn things into planters and containers and art objects for her students. The whole family would keep a collection pile for her various projects.  She was also famous for cultivating plants and having kids start terrariums or outdoor gardens.  An avocado seed was a lesson, she said.

Mrs. Lerner was also a profound believer in the value of field trips to broaden a student's horizons, sometimes paying a student's way, bringing members of her own family when chaperones were needed.

She would go to great lengths to provide a unique experience for the children who were her students'? said Mr. Lerner, her son.

Mrs. Lerner was a lifelong learner who could be found on any given weekend day or evening at the Field Museum, the Chicago Botanic Gardens or the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Born Rona Lynn Weiskirch to William and Ruth Weiskirch on July 7, 1938, Mrs. Lerner grew up in atwo-flat in North Park, attending Peterson Elementary School and Von Steuben High School. She was a graduate of Roosevelt University.

She met her husband, Howard Lerner, who died in 2002, after a friend originally fixed him up with her younger sister.

At their Evanston home, Mrs. Lerner  cultivated a garden full of Rose of Sharon, purple hibiscus,
snapdragons and other unusual plants.

Mrs. Lerner died May 14 in Skokie of complications following a cerebral aneurism. Other survivors include a sister, Marla Heller and grandson Gabriel Lerner-Sperow. Funeral services will be held  3 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 195 N. Buffalo Grove Rd, in Buffalo Grove.

......................................................................................................

The photo above, made by John Brooks, was taken during an exhibition opening of PICTURE THIS Projects' kids work. She was supported her kids and her kids' kids, whether they were her grandson, our PTP young participants or the children of students she'd taught earlier in her career.

.