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Fringe Benefits Theatre

Lisa Jo Epstein–one of our CT4CT Master Class Presenters–just shared some great news: đź“Łđź“Łđź“Ł “I’m super excited to share that my article, ‘Democracy is in the Making: Just Act’s Model for Rehumanizing Community Engagement’ will be one of 16 chapters in ‘Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life,’ edited by Tom Borrup and Andrew Zitcer, long-time champions and observers of community-based creative and cultural practices. Given that I have never written about the past 33 years of working as a social practice applied theatre artist and facilitator, I decided that I would post excerpts from my article as a kind of sneak peek, testing the waters so to speak for a blog. Here’s how Tom and Andrew describe my article in their abstract:
‘In this chapter, the author reflects on her journey leading Just Act, an applied theatre, arts and story-based catalyst for healing, change and activism to build a just world. Inherent in Just Act’s work is a critique of community engagement as traditionally practiced in urban planning and public policy. Community engagement, by emphasizing inclusion without belonging, without a commitment to social justice, views residents as beneficiaries rather than active leaders and deciders. By contrast, Just Act orients its work from an arts-and justice-informed paradigm. This chapter chronicles the author’s innovative work planning with community residents for the renovation of a youth and senior recreation center in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout, the chapter meditates on democracy as an evolving, embodied process, rather than an end goal.'”

Kids and Horses Inc.

Kids & Horses was founded in 1999 by local businessman Sam Waldman and his wife Lorri to enhance the physical and mental well-being of children and adults who suffer from autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Sam was an early-adopter of utilizing horses as a means for helping individuals with disabilities. They turned their own Double W Ranch in Minden into a center dedicated to helping people with disabilities and quickly attracted the enthusiastic support of friends, family and the community. When Mr. Waldman passed away, Lorri along with a devoted board of directors, staff, volunteers and the families resolved to carry on.

Sam Waldman was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and was a graduate of the NYU School of Finance. He started out in a small accounting firm. He then joined Airco Industrial Gases, where he was employed for 30 years, until he retired in 1991. BOC bought Airco in 1979 and Sam went on to be its comptroller. He spent 10 years in Japan and the Pacific Rim before settling in Incline Village. Waldman was heavily involved in the business life of the area. He was the owner of Bowl Incline, Kings Beach Car Wash and Incline Car Wash and Storage, and a member of numerous community organizations, including the local Citizen Advisory Board and Chamber of Commerce, where he was a past president. Waldman and his wife Lorri, who were married for 41 years, came to Incline Village in 1986, and bought Bowl Incline two years later. He served as an Improvement District trustee for one term in 1995-1998. IVGID Risk Manager Mike Pennacchio said that among his outstanding achievements while a trustee was to take the lead in the District’s strategic plan, the management audit and the reorganization of the District. “He was the main fiscal person on the board,” said Pennacchio. “He had lots of business and financial sense.” 
 
Despite his busy work life, he nevertheless found time for charitable deeds. “Sam was a very rare person,” said long-time friend Doug Brimm, owner of Austin’s Restaurant. “I considered Sam a leader in this town, a man of substance. He not only created lots of jobs and supported the business community, but he cared about people, and devoted a lot of his personal time to helping them. “In my opinion,” he said, “his most recent important achievement was his Kids and Horses program in Minden, at his ranch. I thought it was one of the most wonderful organizations I’ve ever heard of. When we opened a new restaurant in Reno, we had a fundraiser and were able to donate $17,000 to Sam’s program.” Waldman, an avid horseman, patterned Kids and Horses after the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association children’s program. He felt that riding horses helped build the self-confidence of handicapped children and let them experience the freedom of horse riding. He felt strongly enough about it that he started it with his own funds. “What’s more enjoyable than seeing kids and a horse?” he said of the program. “… when you look in the faces of those children who are on top of the horses, they are smiling.” For this work, Waldman was named as 2000’s Humanitarian of the Year by the 30th Annual Community Awards organization in Carson City. Sam Waldman died at age 65 at his home in Incline Village on October 30, 2000, after having been diagnosed the previous August with cancer. – North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, November 2000 photo by Abe Harbatkin.

Fallbrook Food Pantry

In the last two months, the San Diego Food Bank has sent two truckloads of dry, frozen and fresh food.
Yes, that’s how busy we are. We had increased the number of households we serve in order to provide a full balanced menu to the families in need.
Thank you @sdfoodbank !

Journey Out

SUCCESS STORY: Two years ago, Breyona* first walked through our doors at Journey Out. At the time, she was working through substance abuse and depression, in addition to her exploitation. Although she initially came to us for court ordered diversion programming, she continued attending group classes and receiving therapy long after her court date. After receiving assistance from case managers with her resume and making substantial progress emotionally and mentally, she relocated to reunite with her family in the Midwest. Since then, Breyona got certified as a nursing assistant and is now seeking a job in that field. She has been sober ever since leaving Journey Out and is so grateful for the assistance that she received from us. She said that Journey Out changed her life. Breyona is such an inspiration!
*Name has been changed to protect client confidentiality
 

The Eli Home

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE

The foundation of Eli is built on hearts of service, from the board to the staff and its volunteers. Through the years, our focus has never wavered in sheltering abused children and working to prevent family violence. The journey has never been easy, but it has been joyful. Our board of directors, staff and volunteers have willing hearts, busy hands, and faith that rings louder than our fears.

Friends of Mark Twain Middle School

Seeds to Plate is committed to Connecting students to nature through outdoor education and encouraging healthy choices in food, life habits, and environmental conservation. 

Our program uses the natural world to give students a hands-on, immersive, innovative learning experience that fosters community and a deeper understanding of their academic subjects.

We accomplish this mission through:.

  • Providing garden-based lessons integrating agriculture, nutrition, and environmental awareness into academic lessons

  • Collaborating with teachers to engage their classes on a weekly basis with these garden-based lessons

  • Providing students the opportunity to learn how to grow and prepare food from the garden during recess, lunch, and after school.

  • Encouraging students to understand their role in the ecosystem through composting, recycling, and upcycling resources, alongside growing, harvesting, and preparing produce.

  • Engaging families in maintaining the garden and learning to prepare garden vegetables in monthly garden workdays.

Elevate Your G.A.M.E.

We had our first lunchtime pizza & conversation male mentoring meeting today at Reid High School in Long Beach.
The young men came in excited about what’s going to take place monthly on campus and shared a range of topics they wanted to discuss.

Arts Bridging the Gap

Arts Bridging the Gap uplifts the voices, experiences, and self-expression of youth from under-resourced communities through healing arts programs. Through our work, youth develop interpersonal skills and growth mindsets that enable them to be their best selves in our community.

We currently offer four primary in and after school programs that utilize the arts to provide resources and support for young people in under resourced areas to realize their full potential.

Access Books

“Granting children access to updated libraries isn’t anything we expect thanks for—that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate these precious thank-you cards from the students whose schools we’ve visited with all our hearts. With utmost sincerity, you are all very welcome ❤️“

Click here to learn more about Access Books. 

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