View stories from 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 & earlier
Featuring 2007 grants from our BFJ Chapters Ashland | Atlanta | Austin | Chicago | Cincinnati | Denver | Flagstaff | Kauai | Marin County | Oakland Rose Circle
The Rose Circle is a community of women -- mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and friends -- who provide a safe and empowering place for girls ages 11-16 in which to explore and understand themselves, each other, and the world. . Mentors are there to listen to the girls, to find value in their developing sense of self, and to guide them when there is some appropriate course of action to take. Bread for the Journey of Ashland’s grant of $600 is helping to launch Rose Circle’s exciting, new one-on-one mentoring program. See www.therosecircle.org Welcome Home Veterans Both non-partisan and non-political, the Welcome Home Project is a community-centered “welcome home” program for veterans of foreign wars — especially Iraq and Afghanistan — and their families. A five-day event, slated for May 22-26, will be held at Buckhorn Springs Resort near Ashland, Oregon. Its purpose is to create community among these veterans, and to encourage expression and healing through story, art, writing, and movement. Michael Meade, noted mythologist, storyteller and author, will facilitate. This event also serves to bring into the public eye a much greater awareness of the issues faced by returning vets. Healing can happen when the burdens of war are shared with the larger community. Bread for the Journey of Ashland is honored to grant $1,000 to organizers Bill McMillan and Kim Shelton for this important work. See www.thewelcomehomeproject.org Jackson County Fuel Committee
Full-time volunteer Randall Jones and a host of other big-hearted people believe that no one should have to choose between paying for food or medication and paying their heating bill. Since 1978, this all-volunteer force of citizenry has been helping to provide emergency firewood as well as a utility advocacy benefit to prevent or reverse shut-offs during southern Oregon’s chilly winters. BFJ of Ashland was thrilled to grant $600 toward this group’s compassionate and potentially life-saving work. Boys To Men of Southern Oregon Boys To Men of Southern Oregon is a mentoring program that recognizes the special challenges that boys face in today’s world. “Many of them have too few positive role models or far too many negative examples of masculinity,” says administrator Peter Young. The staff of trained volunteers and professionals are committed to creating a safe, strong, supportive environment that both nurtures and challenges boys. Bread for the Journey of Ashland is proud to grant $600 to this nonprofit so they may expand their programs to include activities such as a ropes course, camping excursions, and wilderness backpacking trips that are built around specific themes, e.g., bullying, sexuality, and core values. See www.boystomennw.org Sharing Local Stories Thomas Doty, storyteller and author, knows that “stories about home” are essential to the wellbeing of a community. He plans to host and facilitate “Sharing Local Stories” in association with The Talent ( Oregon) Historical Society. Each 90-minute program will include a performance and a reading by Doty, an offering from a guest storyteller, and discussions and activities centered on that month’s theme. The Website www.DotyCoyote.com will be the online home for this program where visitors can listen to previous programs and post stories of their own. Doty is convinced of the value in “the difference it makes when people are not only aware of stories of their home, but actively add their stories to this treasured pot of folklore and history.” A grant of $500 from Bread for the Journey of Ashland will help with start-up and promotional costs for this vibrant community forum. The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering
Sharon Mehdi’s inspirational story of two grandmothers standing silently in the local park as an evocative demonstration of how “changing the world can start with the smallest action” has become a global phenomenon. Many people who have read The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering have been touched by its simple message of hope. Bread for the Journey of Ashland contributed $600 to Sharon’s Peace Pilgrimage, bringing her simple & uplifting message to many cities and conferences . http://grandmotherbook.com Rhythm Soul
Patty Aulik teaches percussion classes in schools, juvenile halls, senior centers, community groups, and in her own studio. One day, at a class in a school, Patty discovered that creating a story with a musical elephant not only delighted the children, but assisted them in focusing on the music lesson. This discovery soon led to her writing “Morrie’s Bach Adventure” plus a set of reader guidelines to aid a non-percussionist in facilitating a group. “Morrie, a rather blue-colored elephant, demonstrates curiosity, humor, love, devotion, playfulness, and how to address fear,” says Patty. Bread for the Journey of Ashland was happy to grant $400 toward the publication of her book and accompanying CD. Inner Child Café Inner Child Café is a family oasis, the ultimate fusion of parent refuge with engaging playspace for children. Parents may enjoy lunch or snacks while their children romp in the colorful and interactive 2,500-square-foot indoor play arena. Workshops and classes for the kids are also offered in their classroom. Bread for the Journey of Ashland gave a $200 grant to assist in scholarships for families who cannot afford the membership fee. See www.innerchildcafe.net Bear Hugs Foundation Bear Hugs Foundation is a one-woman “have bears will travel” operation. It exists solely to offer kindness and unconditional love to people in need through the gifts of kindly-looking, soft and cuddly teddy bears. “These bears are welcomed by people of all ages,” points out director Kay Lavonne Crider, who also notes that the foundation’s current focus is in taking the bears to assisted-living facilities and hospitals, “but anyone in the area who wants a companion bear, regardless of their situation, will get one.” Bread for the Journey of Ashland gave BearHugs Foundation a grant of $400 to purchase — you guessed it — more bears! The Ashland Oracle Magazine The Ashland Oracle is a publication showcasing individuals and organizations dedicated to conscious living in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley. Managing Editor Alexis McKenna notes two examples recently featured: (1) a technology company that invented a machine to create recycled building materials from agricultural residue, and; (2) A service organization whose purpose is to help our leaders develop more of the complex skills needed in this rapidly changing world. Bread for the Journey of Ashland gladly granted $800 to The Ashland Oracle to help them continue to the publication. More Ashland stories and contact information. Nurturing Children A private educational institution with just 68 students, Nurturing Children’s Christian Academy (NCCA) does not accept government funding, but relies solely on donations and the modest tuition received from its students and their families. Computers are needed to run educational programs and allow the students Internet access. In order to keep mind and body in balance, new equipment for the playground was needed as well. Bread for the Journey of Atlanta was honored to offer a $1,000 grant to Marcia “Mama” Jack, director of NCCA, to help meet these important goals. Dwell Together Dwell Together provides meals to the hungry and homeless men, women and children who live in downtown Atlanta, primarily in the Woodruff Park area. In order to raise much-needed funds, they lead an annual Thanksgiving food drive, a Christmas gift drive, and a "Blankets and Bread" drive every February. These drives also benefit the homeless women and children of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence's Battered Women's Shelter, who they partnered with in 2006. This year, Bread for the Journey of Atlanta offered Dwell Together a grant of $1,500. For more information about their good work, visit http://www.dwelltogether.com. You’re On My Heart Book Club Sherelyn Duhart is the program director of You're On My Heart, cable and television program that encourages young people to take their education seriously. You’re On My Heart Book Club is for children 13 years of age and under. By joining the club, children get to participate in unique quarterly discussions about the books they’ve read. Sherelyn also provides educational tools to help high school students with college preparation and GED preparedness. Bread for the Journey of Atlanta was pleased to offer a $500 grant to Sherlyn for this needed program. More Atlanta stories and contact information. Summer of Safety program
Mona Gonzalez, Founding Director of River City Youth Foundation, has worked for over 20 years to revitalize and reclaim one of Austin’s most challenged neighborhoods. In the summers of 2005 and 2006, the Dove Springs neighborhood lost two youths to violent shootings. Mona’s response was to organize neighborhood churches and residents into an Interfaith Group called DOVE (Directing our Vision Ecumenically). DOVE’s aim was to bring hope to the neighborhood and erase the stigma of an area plagued with the reputation of violence. When BFJ of Austin visited Mona’s “ Success Center,” which offers services to families and youth, it was humming with children and community members. Mona requested funds to expand their “Summer of Safety” program to one of the churches involved in organizing DOVE, so that “at promise” youth could find shelter and support to realize their potential. Bread for the Journey of Austin granted $500 to purchase supplies for the new Summer of Safety site at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. KPWR – The People Will Radio KPWR — The People Will Radio — is a web-based radio project, providing a safe space for community members to disseminate information and entertainment that is not readily available to the public. They use web radio to empower each other and provide a forum for grass-roots community programming, focusing on issues of local interest while sharing this experience with the global community. A grant of $300 was given to KPWR to help get their message out to people in the surrounding area. The grant was used to print bumper stickers, posters, and t-shirts. The Rhizome Collective The Rhizome Collective in Austin, Texas, is recognized nationally as a model for grass-roots urban sustainability. Their interest is in addressing environmental concerns as well as social justice issues. A widely varied group of organizations function under their umbrella, using the Rhizome facility for meetings, events, and a workspace. These organizations include The Inside Books Project, Food Not Bombs, The Residents’ Collective, Bikes Across Borders, KPWR—The People Will Radio, The Indy Media Center, Art Reach, as well as several individual members. Their request to Bread for the Journey of Austin was for $300 to fund the conversion of a small space on their site into an office to be used by all of these organizations. Recycled and used equipment was purchased, including a computer, a filing cabinet and a desk. When the office was completed, regular office hours were established, so that members of the various organizations could make use of the photocopier, phone line, computer and files. Immediately upon completion, the Rhizome Office and Welcome Center was in regular use. Dharma Punx
Dorje Spragens, co-founder of “Austin Dharma Punx,” is serving a lot of recovering addicts – with a goal to “contribute to a greater peace through mindfulness and meditation.” Dorje’s childhood friend, Noah Levine, is a counselor and author of the book Dharma Punx. Recognizing the need to bring Noah’s approach to Austin, Dorje began offering Buddhist meditation and discussion at a local coffeehouse. He hoped to have 2-10 people attend the first meeting, however more than 40 actually showed up. BFJ of Austin also met a young talented seamstress named Blossom who was struggling through a personal crisis. They eventually contracted with her to make zafu’s (meditation cushions) for Dorje’s groups, which served Dharma Punx and Blossom. Bread for the Journey of Austin supported this healing project that builds on the generosity of Dorje and Blossom with a grant of $1,000. More Austin Stories and contact information. Nu Stage Theatre
Nu Stage Theatre grew out of the Chicago Theatre Company's Youth Theatre Division. Their Saturday Drama Class is an outreach program that introduces youth of an underserved community to professional theater as an alternate medium for artistic expression. Through Nu Stage Theater, Peter Chatman and Kevin Holt aim to not only introduce students to the world of theatre but also to give them a chance to release their fears, embrace diversity, and express themselves artistically. Through participation in the program, students develop skills that are critical to their continued success, including academic (writing and speaking), personal and interpersonal (self-esteem, negotiation and social interaction), cognitive (decision making and creative reasoning), and information gathering (research and evaluation). The Saturday Drama Class has inspired thousands of students to improve their grade-point averages, reading skills, and school attendance records. Bread for the Journey of Chicago was happy to grant $1,800 to Nu Stage Theatre so that Peter Chapman and Kevin Holt could purchase computer equipment, expand their programs, and continue to provide this valuable resource to the children of the Chicago area. One Way Farm Children’s Home
There is a growing epidemic in the United States of abandoned and abused children with no caring adult to look after them and provide them with a secure, warm environment in which to thrive. One Way Farm Children’s Home provides long-term and emergency housing for children in crisis in suburban Cincinnati. In addition to food and lodging, they provide education, medical, and therapeutic services to help the children gain the self-respect and the confidence they need to become well-balanced adults. Due to budget constraints, One Way Farm cannot always provide the children with all that they would like. Bread for the Journey of Cincinnati was able to provide a grant of $900 to help them initiate an arts and crafts program, with field trips that would expose the children to the beauty of art and some more of the finer things in life. Student Interfaith Peace Project
Eighteen high school students had the opportunity to participate in a new pilot program in Denver that builds relationships between young people of different faiths, nationalities and cultural backgrounds. The Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East is developing this program at the University of Denver in an effort to build a network of peacemakers among high school students in the US and those living in Israel and Palestine. The students will meet monthly throughout the school year and attend related community events together, then complete the program with a ten-day trip to Israel and Palestine next summer. The introductory retreat that took place in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains in October was a great success, with 28 students in attendance. While the organizers were thrilled by the response, these unanticipated numbers required more funding to cover the cost of transportation for the students, extra food, supplies, etc. Bread for the Journey stepped in at the last minute and gave them a grant of $1,200 to make sure that all these enthusiastic peacemakers could participate in the retreat. The Food Lady Minnie Rhodes does not live a lavish life, but she is willing to share what she does have. She “came up” in Alabama — with her mama passing away before she knew her — and knows what it is like to be hungry. Minnie told us that, “it grieves me to know people are hungry,” and so she does something about it. For the past 16 years, she has run her own informal food pantry out of her garage. People know her as the “food lady,” so when they know someone is in need, they call Minnie. She has a network of individuals and businesses who keep her stocked with essential dried and canned goods. Among Minnie’s claims to fame are her cinnamon rolls, which she makes each week and sells at her church. The income from the cinnamon rolls allows her to buy meat and protein, food items that are not easily donated. Minnie has three industrial-size freezers in her garage for food storage. Around the holidays, she also likes to purchase some turkeys (always on sale) as a special treat for those in need. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave Minnie $600 so she could take a week off from baking cinnamon rolls and purchase turkeys for the holidays. Refugees Find a New Home A small community of refugees from Burma (formerly Myanmar) is developing in Denver. International news reports in the fall of 2007 described the horrific conditions that the Burmese people are struggling with. While some Burmese are fortunate to be political refugees, it is also true that life in America is not easy for these immigrants either. After the Denver Post published an article about the challenges they are facing in adjusting to their new lives, Bread for the Journey contacted their group leader to offer help. Few people in Denver speak their language, making it particularly difficult for them to find or maintain employment. As a result, these families continually struggle to get food and basic supplies, such as diapers, clothing, rent, etc. BFJ gave the Colorado Burma Roundtable Network a grant of $600 to help with the refugees’ basic living expenses. Common Tables Common Tables is a new Denver-based nonprofit that brings diverse groups of people together around the dinner table to get to know each other and better understand each other’s core values and practices while sharing a meal. The idea has caught on quickly and now has participants in over 36 countries worldwide. Common Tables facilitates the dinner groups by mixing people from different backgrounds. Each participant agrees to host one dinner and attend four dinners over a six-month period. They also provide tips on conversation starters, conversational taboos and traditions from various cultures. BFJ of Denver gave Common Tables $1,500 to hire a consultant that would help them prepare materials for the groups on a process called Appreciative Inquiry — a way of asking questions and stimulating conversation that focuses on peoples strengths. Together with the Children Together with the Children – a non-profit in Denver – works to improve the lives of impoverished children and their families living on the streets in Mexico and beyond. Their hope is to help the children achieve positive futures full of hope and opportunity. In order to help get the word out about these children and to raise funds, the Denver group is planning a photo exhibit that will be shown in a local gallery. Volunteers will work with the children in Puebla, Mexico, photographing their lives and environment. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave Together with the Children a grant of $750 to purchase cameras, film and framing supplies. Young People Go Global Alzheimer’s and Art Appreciation
While Maureen Wells works with Alzheimer’s patients as part of her paying job, her commitment to those suffering from the disease doesn’t end there. In her free time, she has created an art appreciation program that she takes to group homes and assisted-living facilities. Maureen collects art posters and groups them according to themes, then finds music and poetry to fit these same themes. She has found that there are few resources for bringing art, music and poetry to the elderly and disabled, particularly those who are homebound. Her experience has shown that art can be very therapeutic. One woman with Alzheimer’s was practically nonverbal until she came to Maureen’s presentation and saw a Van Gogh print that had always been one of her favorites. The woman cried, then became quite animated as she recalled the time in her life when she had first become familiar with that painting. BFJ of Denver’s grant of $1,500 helped Maureen purchase supplies, and renew and add to her print collection. Diversity as a Community Asset Carla Ficke and Ayn Fox have, for years, been involved with various community-building activities in Denver. A few years ago, they were introduced to the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and their work in developing a leadership network that combats racism and discrimination across the globe. They immediately saw the relevance and transferability of NCBI’s practices to mediating conflicts within all types of groups, including law enforcement, government, education, business and religion. By listening to and valuing individual stories, NCBI workshops help people see that differences can be a community asset. Carla and Ayn formed a NCBI chapter in Denver and are now working to train more people to use the techniques employed by NCBI. Bread for the Journey of Denver was pleased to grant them $1,000 to start their fundraising efforts, enabling them to offer a training session in Denver in the fall of 2007. Part of the Atmosphere
Marta Burton believes in the power of music to inspire, heal and transform both performers and audience alike. Her vision is to create performances throughout the Denver area and beyond that use ethnic folk music from many different traditions to awaken people to our shared humanity. She states, “Folk music, by its very nature, can transcend the boundaries of race, color and creed.” Her performances are often part of larger events where people gather to celebrate and share ideas. A grant of $800 from Bread for the Journey of Denver will allow Marta to build a roster of performers; identify new performers and music; and create her model at upcoming events. She is already signed on to create a performance for the Interfaith Alliance National Leadership Convention in May and the Interfaith Music Festival in October. Marta and her band performed a beautiful holiday concert in December, which in her generosity, she offered as a benefit to BFJ of Denver. More Denver stories and contact information. The Northern Arizona Ethnic Arts Network
The mission of The Northern Arizona Ethnic Arts Network — an organization run by Craig Meriwether — is to support and promote world music, ethnic dance, martial arts, meditation and yoga in Flagstaff and the surrounding communities. For the past three years, they have held an event at the Orpheum called The Flagstaff World Music and Dance Concert, featuring local musicians and dance ensembles. This concert is held to raise awareness of the local talent in the community and as a fundraising event for the organization. Due to a lack of funds, they were going to cancel this year’s scheduled concert. When Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff stepped in and donated $450 towards the production, they were able to hold the concert, which was a great success. Cleanup at the Hardrock Dump
In 2003, the Natoni family staged an old-fashioned Navajo horse race in Rocky Ridge, Arizona. The event was an instant success, with multi-generational families from miles around participating in activities from bareback racing to children’s fruit scrambles to a contest for the best-dressed elder. Mostly poor and quite isolated, the residents of Rocky Ridge began to develop a sense of community pride, while earning some extra money by selling refreshments and crafts to hundreds of visitors. Unfortunately, this otherwise idyllic scene was marred by debris from an open landfill that was blowing across the racetrack, as well as the eyesore of the landfill itself. With a grant of $300 for transportation, fees, and supplies from Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff, local resident Velia Yazzie organized a cleanup so that the community could properly welcome visitors. In February 2007, the Fifth Annual Natoni Horse Race was deservedly featured in Arizona Highways Magazine. Hopi Migration Project
The foundation of Hopi culture includes an ancient migration story that is meant to be recited to future generations over countless winter nights. However, with young people’s attention being pulled in so many directions these days, the lessons embedded in Hopi spoken history are in peril. While attempts to write it down have been made, elders agree that writing arrests the story in time, thus limiting its potential for interpretation by future generations. Eric Polingyouma — the last member of the Bluebird clan that is responsible for keeping Hopi history alive — conceived a series of journeys to key points in the migration chronicle. He hoped to collect “bread crumbs” in the form of photographs and other clues so that seekers could reconstruct the story when it is needed in the future. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff provided a digital camera and also administered a $15,000 grant from the Christensen Fund, enabling several Hopi elders to purchase needed equipment and travel thousands of miles to research and document their origins. Northern Arizona Ethnic Arts Network
Craig Meriweather and Bryan Cooperrider understand the physical and emotional health benefits of music and drumming. With a $2,000 grant from Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff, they were able to obtain dozens of drums and percussion instruments for use in several exciting programs and retreats. First, the Musical Playground program brings drumming and ethnic music workshops to local schoolchildren. Studies have shown that channeling of youthful energy in this way is effective in diminishing the incidence of bullying and isolation. Second, the Health Rhythms program provides emotional relief and stress reduction to both child and adult cancer patients in the regional hospital as well as at “cancer camp.” And last but not least, Bryan held several well-received drumming retreats for combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Rocky Ridge Ride-to-School Program
Willy Begay could see many advantages in rural Navajo children riding their horses to school, including increased self-confidence, physical exercise, and the development of valuable skills. What he noticed to be lacking was a location where the children could safely leave their horses during their classes. With a grant of $500 from Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff, Willy established a secure corral next to the local elementary school, provisioning it with water and a feed supply that would be periodically replenished through small fundraisers. An additional bonus has been the sense of fun, camaraderie, and belonging that the children experience as members of the Rocky Ridge Saddle Club. Free Lameness Prevention Clinics While horses are a vital aspect of traditional life on the Navajo Nation, they often become disabled due to botched hoof trimming or improper shoeing. Farrier Ed Whitethorne recognized the need to educate residents on the principles of hoof care and on ways to prevent lameness in horses. With a grant of $300 for transportation and publicity from Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff, Ed was able to conduct a series of free workshops in several reservation towns. Rez Vet
Many Hopi and Navajo people depend on their livestock — including cows, sheep, goats and horses — not only for meat but also for wool, hides, and the income they earn from participating in rodeos. Their animals enable them to remain self-sufficient and connected to the land, to one another, and to their traditions. Dr. Adrienne Ruby is a mobile veterinarian who has served the Hopi and western Navajo nations for fifteen years. She is a welcome sight in lightly settled reaches of the reservations, and a popular mentor to young people with interest in veterinary science as a career. Providing animal care on a sliding-fee scale (and often at no charge), she lives on the edge of poverty in a remote, one-room cottage without plumbing or electricity. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff supports Dr. Ruby by providing a base in town for R&R and, as a non-profit organization, by receiving in-kind donations on her behalf (such as a specialized veterinarian’s box with compartments for instruments and medicines that fits in the bed of her pickup truck). BFJ has also purchased equipment (such as equine dental tools) and provided help with initial publicity for now-established events, including no-cost community clinics where rural families learn up-to-date care and treatment of their animals. More Flagstaff Stories and contact information. Van Go! Caretakers of the Family
Garden Island Arts Council proposed the Kahu'Ohana (Caretakers of the Family) project, building on the success of the 2007 Kahu'Aina (Caretakers of the Land) art competition for students. The focus of this project is to encourage students to crystallize in images, words and other forms of expression their appreciation for the family members and other mentors who influence their lives in positive ways. Van Go! is taking this project "on the road" to give students all over the island the opportunity to express their appreciation through drawings, paintings, photos, poems, songs, videos, pod-casts, and other creative forms of expression. Local artists, songwriters, poets, and well-known personalities will provide workshops and demo sessions in schools, libraries, and various other venues where students can be brought together to participate. A $3,000 grant from Bread for the Journey of Kauai will help pay for supplies, van expenses, exhibition costs, artist fees, and other program expenses. Education on the Move
Bread for the Journey of Kauai was delighted to support the Kanuikapono Learning Center with a grant of $3,000 to help purchase a trailer for moving large equipment to remote sites where students will use them in experiential learning programs. Students learn about community needs through their relationship with community loi (wetland in which taro is grown) restoration. The school’s vision is “to Cultivate the 21st Century Learning Ohana by combining the teachings of our elders and the best of the 21st Century.” The purchase of the trailer will make a big difference to all of the Center’s students, faculty and administration. Scholarships for the Aloha School Learning Center
The Aloha School has been serving the island community of Kauai since 1978, with experiential learning through cooking, gardening, music, art, dance, and movement. While there is a great deal of wealth on the North Shore of Kauai, many families are struggling with the huge increase in the cost of living over the past five years. With a grant of $3,000 from Bread for the Journey of Kauai, the Aloha School will be able to enroll children whose parents otherwise could not afford to send them to pre-school. This allows parents the security of being able to go to work knowing that their children are in a safe, nurturing, structured environment and the children learn creative social and interactive skills – a win/win for all. Succeeding in a New World
As an adolescent in Vietnam just five years ago, Khuyen Tran had no clue about how to prepare himself for his new life in America. Starting school less than one month after arriving in the States, Khuyen found himself in the proverbial water without a lifejacket . He couldn’t understand the lectures at school and often felt challenged and confused. With help from others, he eventually began to understand and acclimate to the culture, while never forgetting his identity. Now, as a sophomore at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Khuyen Tran has successfully adjusted, and he wants to give back by helping his fellow foreign students to also succeed in a new world. Bread for the Journey of Kauai was pleased to grant $2,500 towards this effort. Cultural Exchange School Concert
A total of 400 students from Kauai Community College Hawaiian Studies, Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha, Island School, — as well as from various home schools — were privileged to attend an amazing cultural exchange program last March in the beautiful Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by the Garden Island Arts Council, the performance featured the 12-member Maori troupe Te Wananga Maori; master kihoa’lu guitarist Jeff Peterson of Oahu; renowned jazz guitarist Amit of India; native Hawaiian students of Ke Kula Ni’ihau O Kekaha, Island School Hawaiian Hula Halau; master drummer Ernest Borkatey from Ghana; and the Love Tribe Drummers of Kauai. The performance was truly a wonderful sharing of cultures, providing enrichment for the artist and audience alike. A grant of $600 by Bread for the Journey for a post-performance meal provided further opportunity for the children and performers to meet and interact. Kenny Endo Taiko Drummers School Demonstration
The students of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi were privileged to see an inspiring demonstration of a significant cultural art form by the finest Taiko drummers in Hawai’i. These Oahu-based drummers study and teach at the Taiko Center of the Pacific. With a $700 grant from Bread for the Journey of Kauai to the Garden Island Arts Council, the entire student body had the rare opportunity to experience this superb performance. High on Broadcasting
Students at Hanalei Elementary School are broadcasting the news: They are high on life, and they are especially high on broadcasting the news! Yes, every morning Hanalei students broadcast the news at their school, and now they can do so with their very own video editing station, thanks to a $1,500 grant from Bread for the Journey of Kauai. The students are delighted to have a work station that is always available to them, rather than squeezing time in at other computers during lunch, recess, or after school. Using their new video editing station, the students created a Public Service Announcement (PSA) called “Get High on Life.” The positive-approach, anti-drug video shows kids choosing exercise and making healthy choices to “get high” naturally, rather than on drugs. The students were able to digitally film and edit the project with their new G5 iMac computer. They regularly broadcast the 30-second PSA on the Hanalei School newscast, and have also entered it into three Hawaiian film festivals. The PSA will also air on Education Public TV station 56. Congratulations on a stellar production! Improvisational Acting and Skit Writing Program for Youth
In January, 12 bright kids gathered with Derek Green for the first day of a 21-week course in improvisational fun. This course trains kids in Improv Acting and Skit Writing. Each class starts with a series of improvised scenes that inspire creativity and laughter. These scenes are then turned into writing material for skits in the style of "Saturday Night Live," "MadTV," and "The Amanda Show." Every actor has the potential of doing hundreds of scenes while changing each of their characters along the way. At the end of the course, the students will perform their skits as part of a fundraiser for The Garden Island Arts Council. Bread for the Journey of Kauai contributed $750 to a scholarship fund, enabling five students from families that needed financial assistance to participate. Kauai Food Bank Bread for the Journey of Kauai joined in the Christmas spirit and was delighted to contribute $160 toward food donations to the Kauai Food Bank. Funds raised at a collection party of were matched by Bread for the Journey and delivered with a truckload of food goodies and lots of Christmas cheer. Living Supplement The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Elementary Education on Kauai, combining Internet classes and face-to-face meetings with professors, which enables students to obtain a degree while remaining at home on Kauai. During their last semester, students are required to work 5 full unpaid days a week and must also attend a 3-credit class that meets at night. For obvious reasons, students are advised against working during this semester. Kauai resident Doreen Stone recently received a scholarship from the Hanalei Bay Rotary Club, meeting some of her financial needs. However, Doreen also supports her daughter and mother, so when she tore ligaments in her ankle this past December, financial stress set in. A grant of $1,000 from Bread for the Journey of Kauai helped Doreen continue through her last semester and reach her goal of becoming a teacher on Kauai. More Kauai stories and contact information. Helping our Youth Mature into Adulthood
Anthropologists have discovered that rites of passage to help youth with the transition into adulthood have been an intrinsic part of traditional cultures. In this way, young people discover their gifts, a vision for their role in the community, and their own personal “medicine” or wisdom for dealing with the challenges that lay before them. Traditionally, their elders facilitated these discoveries, and supported the young adults to integrate their visions, roles and paths into the fabric of the community, supporting the transformation of the child mentality ("What's in it for me?") into the adult mentality ("How can I best serve the needs of my community?"). The San Francisco Bay Area is fortunate to have a local program – Stepping Stones Project – that brings the lost art of rites-of-passage back to our youth. Led by Lynn Cheatham and fifteen other extraordinary leaders, the success of Stepping Stones Project’s work with middle-school students has provided the foundation for them to now explore new programming and collaborations with other agencies, enabling them to better serve youth of various ages and backgrounds. Bread for the Journey of Marin County was honored to support them with a grant of $1,000. Visit www.steppingstonesproject.org. More Marin County stories and contact information. City Slicker Farms City Slicker Farms — A great name and a great idea! This small, non-profit organization helps residents of West Oakland create high-yield urban farms and backyard gardens. The project’s mission is to empower West Oakland community members to meet immediate and basic needs for healthy organic food. City Slicker Farms shares information and techniques, then essential tools, resources and support to low-income residents so they can become successful urban gardeners. Bread for the Journey of Oakland is honored to grant City Slicker Farms $400 for their efforts to promote healthy eating, nutritional awareness, and empowerment to the community of West Oakland. Born Brown: All Rights Reserved Born Brown: All Rights Reserved is a social enterprise agency that promotes understanding and collaboration among people of color with various origins. Their work aspires to liberate activists, educators, youth and elders by countering oppressive messages from the media with ones that evoke self-acceptance and self-love. Shalonda Ingram, co-founder and director of Born Brown, designed and presented the workshop “Transforming Hip-Hop: Challenging Male Supremacy and Gender Oppression in Hip-Hop Music and Culture” at the US Social Forum held in Atlanta, GA, in June 2007. While hip-hop music has provided a source of healing from the trauma of oppression, much of today’s commercial hip-hop contain themes that perpetuate gender discrimination, homophobia and sexual violence. Bread for the Journey of Oakland was honored to provide Born Brown a grant of $1,000 to promote this transformational workshop to the Oakland and surrounding area communities. Boundless Hearts
Last year, 148 people were murdered in the city of Oakland, CA. Mothers are mourning the loss of their children to violence. The vivid memory of this loss is more profound on the child's birthday, the anniversary of their death, and on Mother's Day. A community gathering to honor these mothers was hosted by the organization, Boundless Hearts, and held on the day before Mother’s Day. Founded by Pamela Ayo Yetunde, Boundless Hearts is a group of compassionate people – companions and chaplains providing spiritual care to communities and individuals in the San Francisco East Bay. Bread for the Journey of Oakland was honored to grant $500 toward the production of Boundless Hearts’ first community event, Mother’s Morning/Mourning. More Oakland stories and contact information. Operation Beanies for Iraq Service Personnel
Mrs. Miki Sessler of Huntington Beach, California, started "Operation Beanies for Service Members" in 2004, with the intent of having friends and neighbors knit or crochet beanies – which are worn under helmets – for Iraq service personnel. The soft beanies, which are in great demand, keep their heads warm, keep bugs out of their hair, and help the helmets fit better. Attached to each hat is the name of the "knitter." The soldier is asked to have their picture taken wearing it. Miki then sends the photo to the volunteer who made the beanie. Now, in 2007, this project has snowballed into a huge undertaking, as women all over the country are sending them to Miki to mail to Iraq. She had 17 boxes of beanies and couldn't afford the shipping costs. Bread for the Journey of Orange County contributed $500 toward the mailing. Violins To Fill the Music Gap!
The Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) in Santa Ana has Ms. Kelly Wright, a local violin teacher, providing weekly violin classes to over 25 elementary and junior high students with limited financial resources. Most of the students come to the program having never touched a violin before and are eager to begin. The program is so successful and popular that Ms. Kelly has opened a new class for beginners and even now has a waiting list of interested students. With the growth of the program, Ms. Kelly found herself in an awkward position. The violins were loaned to the students for the duration of the class, but there were more students than available instruments. Bread for the Journey of Orange County stepped in with a $1,500 grant to provide enough violins for every child who needed one but couldn’t afford it. Websites for Heroes
Terry Gniffke is founder and CEO of Caliber Media Agency and a Vietnam veteran who knows the value of families staying in close touch through the harrowing times of war. Recently, the government blocked military access to MySpace and YouTube, sites that helped soldiers and their families connect online. Mike Sawtelle joined Terry in solving the problem by designing a way to provide password-protected websites for just $99 a year. Soldiers or their families can apply for a website online and will receive one as they are made available through contributions. Bread for the Journey of Orange County donated $2,000 to Websites for Heroes, making twenty such sites available. For more information, see www.websitesforheroes.com. More Orange County stories and contact information.
LEAP Family Literacy provides careful integration of educational opportunities to fifteen low-income refugee and immigrant families in Portland, ME. Transportation and childcare issues often prevent these families from obtaining the schooling that they need, so LEAP strives to assist them in surmounting these barriers. This fall, LEAP was gearing up to teach English classes to parents while their pre-school-age kids participated in a Head Start program, but ran into a challenge serving the children under age three. They had a childcare provider and convenient space lined up but did not anticipate the nine extra babies and toddlers they gained this fall. Bread for the Journey of Portland contributed $3,000 to enable LEAP to hire an additional childcare provider for the year. With school and quality care in place for their children, the parents in the program can prepare to become citizens, to get better jobs, and to educate their families. Honoring Mothers The perfect mother always adores her baby, loves to nurse, coo and giggle, and play with her baby all day long. Yet she still manages to make dinner, keep the house clean, always smiles, and doesn’t need sleep! Like most images of perfection, that one is also mostly false. In truth, many new mothers are crushed to find themselves alone with an infant who makes lots of demands and provides little immediate gratification. All too often, these women suffer alone under the weight of others’ expectations of the role of the perfect mother. Enter Martha Tole and Linda Boardman, both doulas (women who give assistance during labor and after childbirth ) with years of experience caring for new mothers. They have begun the Postpartum Support Center of Maine. Their plans run from the creation of a statewide “warm-line” for peer support of families coping with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, to getting brochures that outline the signs of postpartum depression into the hands of every new mother in the state, to creating a statewide database listing support services for a host of postpartum conditions. Bread for the Journey of Portland gave them a grant of $1,750 to pay for administrative startup and publicity materials, including web design and brochures. Performing Bias Creating a positive school climate for students from diverse backgrounds is a priority for educators. Schools in Portland, Maine – home to the most ethnically, racially and religiously diverse student body in the state – have long worked to build a respectful community that condemns harassment based on sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, class and religion. Yet a recent study by a national organization working to prevent hate violence identified such harassment as an area of concern in the city’s schools. To their credit, school administrators, faculty and students confronted the study head-on and began to work to improve this condition. Toward that end, ROiL — a local company of artists dedicated to theater for social change — collaborated with Portland High School’s Civil Rights Team to produce an original play about bias in their schools. They followed up their six-week workshop and the ensuing performances with student-led discussions among different audiences in the community. The students learned how to use performance as a powerful and effective means of initiating and intensifying dialogue among their peers. Bread for the Journey of Portland made a grant to ROiL of $1,650 for artist stipends, materials, and associated costs. More Portland stories and contact information. Latinos y Latinas en Acción Latinos y Latinas en Acción ( LLEA ) is a vibrant coalition of community residents who promote positive change through MidCity Community Advocacy Network (Mid-City) in San Diego. LLEA members actively participate in Mid-City’s civic and political processes, and are well respected by the governing bodies at the city, county, state and federal levels. The mission of LLEA is to lead, support and channel the various efforts made by the Latino community to improve the quality of life of its families and to influence the civic and political processes that affect Mid-City. Latinos and Latinas en Acción recruits its members with two goals in mind: 1. To come together as a community and identify the basic needs that impact our families — such as affordable healthy housing, immigrant rights, access to health care, fair-paying jobs, and quality education for their children. 2. To have the LLEA membership participate in activities and actions geared towards addressing those basic needs. Through a variety of trainings, members acquire the skills needed to become advocates. The trainings focus on leadership development, community organizing and advocacy, personal growth, and the personal impacts of racism and oppression. This year, the priority areas for LLEA are: immigrant rights, affordable and healthy housing ( Proyecto Casas Des Saludables), and education. The San Diego chapter of Bread for the Journey gave a $1,000 grant to the LLEA to provide a full year of childcare services, thus allowing parents to attend the LLEA meetings and events. For more information: www.midcitycan.org Click on “Community Involvement”. Edible, Incredible Food
San Diego Food Not Lawns is a grassroots group which focuses on "cultivating an edible future and working together to effect local change regarding a variety of food- and land-related issues”. These issues include food security; sustainable agriculture; genetically engineered foods and commercial food production; environmental and social justice; farm worker and border issues; land access; water; reducing our ecological footprint; feeding the hungry; reclaiming space; and creating local food systems. A $1,000 grant from the San Diego chapter of Bread for the Journey will help to support San Diego Food Not Lawns through the Chollas Creek urban farm project. This will be used as a demonstration site in order to grow free plant starts for local schools and gardeners and to help facilitate free gardening classes. A portion of the funds will also help support the San Diego Food Not Lawns annual event, “Eat In, Act Out Week”. Dress for Success For thousands of women in San Diego County, the prospects for building confidence and gaining career skills are remote. With low self-esteem, a lack of job skills and minimal professional support, these women and their children are trapped in a cycle of poverty. Dress for Success San Diego (DFSSD) was conceived to help these women break that cycle by providing multi-level support during their transition from government assistance to economic independence. It all starts with the suits. Each client receives a personal consultation at the DFSSD “boutique”; one suit for her job interview and, when she gets the job, up to one week’s worth of professional attire, plus additional, ongoing support services. DFSSD volunteers gently guide the client through the clothing selection process and along the way, nurture their self-esteem and educate the client on workplace protocol and expectations. DFSSD also pioneered a professional Mentor Program that matches clients with successful businesswomen for guidance and encouragement. Over 4,000 women have benefited from DFSSD programs since 1998. BFJ of San Diego granted them $1,000 to help support this progressive program. Sun and Moon
The mission of Sun and Moon Vision Productions (SMVP) is to support women filmmakers in producing films, documentaries, media art, and events that educate, inspire change, and advance a humanitarian vision. Advocating for the end of human and environmental exploitation, they work to educate and provide working opportunities to other media artists — especially women and youth — who typically do not have access to film and multimedia technologies. SMVP provides full multimedia production services for other businesses, arts and culture programs, and community organizations in San Diego. Bread for the Journey was proud to give a $1,000 grant to support this innovative and progressive work. License to Freedom
Many of us take driving (or our ability to learn how to drive) for granted. What if you were a woman from a country where females were not encouraged — even forbidden — to learn to drive? Imagine how it might be if, in addition, you were living with domestic violence and had no way to flee. License to Freedom is a nonprofit organization that promotes peace through Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention, Driver’s License Education, and Women’s Self-Sufficiency Projects in the San Diego region. They believe that every person has a right to live without fear, and that abused refugee and immigrant women and children should be able to seek and receive services that are respectful of their language, culture, race, age, sexual orientation, physical ability and religious belief. Using an approach developed by Paulo Freire, all educational sessions encourage participants to engage in listening, dialogue, action and reflection. Rather than telling participants what to do and how to do it, the women are guided through the process of self-discovery about their needs as they regain their strength and skills, and explore ways to achieve solutions. A grant from the San Diego chapter of Bread for the Journey in the amount of $750 will help support the range of services provided by License to Freedom. For more information: www.licensetofreedom.org . transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project
Catherine (Cat) Corral, who co-founded transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project in 2005, is working as its CEO and Artistic Director. This San Diego-based nonprofit provides professional training in dance, choreography, creative writing and theatre to San Diego youth with the firm belief that the arts can be an effective tool in mobilizing and empowering people to work for social change in their communities. The core values of this young, dynamic organization are inspiring, and include community leadership and service through the arts; performance as a means to mobilize social change; encouragement of culturally and racially diverse youth to work side by side in meaningful ways; and inspiring greater thinking and action about complex social issues. TranscenDANCE is youth-driven in every aspect of its work. Bread for the Journey of San Diego is honored to grant transcenDANCE $1050 to be used for dance shoes and uniforms. Visit http://www.transcendanceyoutharts.org. Casa Cornelia Law Center
Casa Cornelia Law Center is a public interest law firm that provides quality pro bono legal representation to victims of human and civil rights violations. They are dedicated to working with the most vulnerable communities in San Diego — the undocumented immigrant women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Although entitled by law to immigrant visas, these victims are dependent upon their abusers to access the system. Their abusers, however, refuse to help them with the process, often threatening them with deportation and separation from family. They live in the shadows of society, alienated by language, poverty, culture, and fear. Because of their undocumented immigration status, they cannot take advantage of the social and medical services designed for at-risk women and children. Casa Cornelia comes to their aid by providing free legal representation, which empowers them to leave their abusive relationships. They assist them with their visa petitions, which get them on the road toward economic independence, improved self-esteem, and a new life for themselves and their children. A $500 grant from the San Diego chapter of Bread for the Journey will cover the cost of all printing for the Casa Cornelia Domestic Violence program. See www.casacornelia.org. More San Diego stories and contact information. School’s Out
BRRR … It’s Cold Outside! Living With The Land The Red Willow Community Center at Taos Pueblo provides educational opportunities to community members of all ages. The building was constructed of adobe bricks made by members of the pueblo, and vigas (wooden beams) that were brought down from the mountain. After a large nearby forest fire, the center launched an effort to heat its buildings and greenhouses with a Biomass District Heating System consisting of a fire box contained within a large metal water tank. The fire heats the water, which then is channeled into a radiant floor heating system in the center and then to radiant systems in the greenhouses. Members grow produce in the greenhouses – some of which is sold at the on-site Farmers Market. Their energy, creativity, and enthusiasm for learning new ways to live in harmony with the earth inspired Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe to grant $3,025 to help complete the building of the center’s second greenhouse. There Are No Borders Passing on Tradition at the Pueblo
The Pueblo of Pojoaque in New Mexico, established the Poeh Cultural Center and Museum in 1988 to serve as a “resource place for Pueblo tradition and to support the culture of Pueblo people by teaching the arts.” The Poeh Center has developed an intergenerational methodology of teaching as a strategy to pass on traditional arts and life experiences. Children and adults come together to learn about the arts, language and philosophy in the same relaxed, non-regimented fashion as their ancestors. Plans are in place for a two-day First Annual Gathering of the Rio Grande Native American Basket Makers Association in October 2007, to include a public exhibition of the baskets. Red willow, cottonwood, and other native species will be planted as part of the gathering. Bread for the Journey was pleased to grant $1,000 for this new association and for all that it will mean to the people of the Pueblo. And A Little Child Shall Lead Them A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words For years, Jewel Cabeza de Vaca has been organizing a summer camp for families of those living with HIV, enabling families to spend quality time together and to create lasting memories. Jewel wanted to present each family with a keepsake professional photograph to have for the future. Acknowledging the importance of family photographs to both current and future generations, Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was happy to donate $300 for Jewel’s worthwhile project. In My Father’s Footsteps Families who have for generations owned and operated small ranches and farms in New Mexico are finding it difficult to survive as property taxes increase, profit margins diminish, and wealthy outside investors purchase huge plots of grazing land. A retired professional photographer, Jim Howard dreamed of producing a documentary to honor these multigenerational family enterprises that are now being threatened by super-stores and mega-corporations. Seeing this project as a labor of love, Jim has so far absorbed most of the cost; however, he needed some extra support for editing and producing the DVD that would record the histories, successes, challenges, and transitions experienced by these families. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was pleased to contribute $300 to this project. Learning To Wait New Mexico has the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the nation. The Community Wellness Center in Taos has an after-school and summer program for middle-school girls at risk for teen pregnancy, aimed at increasing their refusal skills and their understanding of reproductive health. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe gave the center a grant of $2,000 to help pay for publicity about their services, as well as other services available in the area that support prevention of teen pregnancy. A brochure will be distributed to all groups working with teens, and peer health education programs that include men will also be delivered within three rural towns. The Three Sisters
The name "Three Sisters" represents the corn, beans and squash that sustained the people of northern New Mexico for centuries. Daniela Di Piero, the head of an organization called Movimiento, is involved in the Three Sisters Project and represents the three inter-connected components of ecology, education, and economy. Movimiento believes that a youth-organized sustainable agriculture project is an excellent way for young people to earn a living wage while growing and selling food. In order to launch a food products business, they needed to obtain food handlers' licenses, learn about ordering supplies and labels, and more. Bread for the Journey of Santa has given them $1,000 to help with this exciting endeavor. Tour de Taos Over the years, Charles Kading has spent countless hours working to promote cycling as a highly beneficial form of transportation. Because he believes in making the world a more bicycle-friendly place, he has been quite active in planning the second annual Tour de Taos Bicycle Ride. BFJ of Santa Fe was happy to donate $300 to this worthy cause. More Santa Fe stories and contact information. The Petaluma Bounty Hunters
The Petaluma Bounty Hunters We first saw them in the newspaper. Their dream was to gather the bounty of our county — all the loads of extra backyard fruits & vegetables and leftovers from banquets — and get this fresh food to the local food pantries. Finally, those in need of pantry assistance could enjoy some of the organic food that our local community has to offer! The Petaluma Bounty Hunters bring humor to the cause, as well. If you want to participate, you can be “deputized,” get a badge, and become a posse hunter! People are responding incredibly well, reminded that hunger exists mainly because of the politics and economics of distribution. We were wildly inspired. With $1,000 from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol, they can print many more of their postcards to be distributed around town, buy a panel truck as well as harvesting ladders to pick all these apples that are coming into season. The Gift That Keeps on Giving Lillith Rogers received a $300 grant from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol and a gift certificate to a local bookstore and office supply store to create a one-woman show about the environmentalist, Rachel Carson, which she could bring to schools and into the community. Lillith generously offered to do the show as a fundraiser for our local chapter, and we accepted. On Earth Day weekend, 2007, during a huge downpour, Lillith did a heart-warming and inspiring show that brought Rachel Carson and her amazing work to life for all those in attendance. To keep the circle of generosity going, we presented Rachel with a surprise $200 honorarium for the performance. She also received some assistance and coaching in producing a DVD of the show. Growing Up Easier: Help for Children and Youth Before becoming a local Feldenkrais practitioner, Rick Geggie had been an elementary school principal in Canada for 24 years. He had worked with gangs, set up programs for the emotionally disturbed, and taught discipline and conflict resolution to parents and teachers. Rick understands the challenges experienced by children with learning or behavioral difficulties. He also knows how much parents struggle to find the right help for their kids, often in isolation. Teaming up with Marie Mulligan, an outstanding and passionate local physician and mother, Rick has compiled an awesome resource to assist parents in finding the help they need. “Growing Up Easier: Help for Children and Youth” will be both a website and book offering guidance from traditional Western as well as alternative healing approaches. Rick has compiled 205 challenges/problems and then helps parents and educators find the best practices to resolve that problem. Over thirty of the practitioners that have written various sections are from Sonoma County! Rick has a huge vision that will some day include healing camps for these children, parents and practitioners. Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol gave him a grant of $1,500 as seed money to get the website started. Our families need the heart and knowledge that Rick and Marie have to offer! The Wayne Muller/Bread for the Journey Local Treasure Award This fall, we selected another "Local Treasure" to honor in our community – Mario Ramos, owner of Mexico Lindo restaurant in Graton, CA. He is not only as a friendly business owner, but also has a creative commitment to food, music and art in his restaurant, an amazing community spirit, and works to promote tolerance and understanding in West Sonoma County. In his quiet, unassuming way, Mario has been pivotal in helping to facilitate communication among business owners and community members in Graton, particularly with the new and innovative Graton Day Labor Center. The restaurant has been used during quiet hours for English classes, sponsored by the local junior college. BFJ gave Mario a grant of $500, to be used for self-renewal and rejuvenation. Thank you Mario, for all that you do. The Wayne Muller/Bread for the Journey Local Treasure Award honors Wayne's role in the initiation of Bread for the Journey, as well as its 20th anniversary. Daily Acts
Daily Acts (www.daily-acts.org) is a grass-roots collective seeking to change our culture and our behavior in ways that support the sustainability of the planet. With the help of over 200 volunteers, they have produced 13 publications and 45 media pieces while educating over 9,000 people on the success of emerging green initiatives. In leading sustainability tours to diverse local organizations, they showcase examples of abundant bioregional living, including local organic farms, Permaculture gardens, green and natural buildings, vegetable-oil powered vehicles, and many other leading ecological solutions that be applied by almost anyone . Founded and led by visionary Trathan Heckman, Daily Acts is now poised to move beyond local boundaries to replicate their work in other communities. A grant of $1,500 from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol will give them the additional funds needed to complete a publication that codifies their message and methods, and articulates their impact to date. This report will aid them in establishing relationships with key non-profit, governmental and business partners — making their vision and programs accessible to a wider audience. The Right Food at the Right Time
A kitchen at a local church is bustling with activity. High school students have gathered to prepare organic meals for families facing serious health crises. Several students are chopping vegetables for side dishes, one is sautéing onions for a minestrone soup, and another is mixing ingredients for a turkey loaf. Cathryn Couch’s project is well under way. This innovative project has two major intentions. The first is to empower young people with cooking and organizing skills; with the knowledge that they can make a difference; and with a direct experience of how food supports our bodies and lives. The second is to provide nutritious, organic meals to families and individuals in need. A $1000 seed grant from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol provided them with essential cooking equipment such as knives and cutting boards, recyclable containers for delivering food, storage bins; funds to donate to the church for utilities; and staples, such as beans, grains, spices and canned goods. This important and innovative project directly engages youth in meeting a profound need within their community. Green Energy Network
Green Energy Network (GEN) works toward slowing climate change through carbon-less transportation fuels and technologies. Since 9/11, GEN has been pursuing community-based alternative fuel options such as ethanol. Ethanol can be blended with gasoline from 25% to 100% in any vehicle depending on the make, model and year. GEN has designed a prototype facility capable of producing 30 gallons of fuel per hour, and expect to be online by mid-April 2007. GEN’s transportation trucks run on alcohol, as does the distillation facility itself. Soon their members will be able to put carbon-neutral fuel into their cars. With a $500 grant from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol, Green Energy Network will finally have a chance to print materials and also staff a few Earth Day booths. This will aid them in reaching more folks interested in reducing climate change. Visit www.GreenEnergyNetwork.org. More Sebastopol stories and contact information. Stop the Violence Summit Johnnie Berry and LaTay Thompson have become extremely concerned about the increase in youth violence in Kalamazoo. As a solution, they decided to host a “Stop the Violence” summit which would include a guest panel of respected adult community members plus an open mike for youth to express their ideas and concerns. The hope is that by opening communication lines, community members can work across generational and geographic lines to find ways to decrease the violence that has escalated to unacceptable levels. Youth from all sides of the city will be encouraged to participate, and it is expected that out of this summit, an inter-generational panel will be formed to start addressing some of their ideas. Having youth be part of the solutions for ending the violence is seen as a key outcome. The event will be publicized through schools and local churches, youth groups and the media, with the summit planned to take place in early 2008. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a grant of $1,000 to support this work. Adventure Program for Blind Teen Girls
As a teacher of the visually impaired for 36 years, Jeanne Church understands that blindness can be an especially isolating condition for kids. Blind children often face the challenges of parental overprotection, lowered expectations, learned helplessness, and limited opportunities to make friends. Jeanne has developed an empowerment program for blind girls in grades 6-9, engaging them in thought-provoking and challenging activities, with a focus on setting personal goals, building trusting relationships, advocating for themselves, and developing a “cando” attitude. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide two grants totaling $2,500 to support this important program. Eastside Neighborhood Association
The mission of the Eastside Neighborhood Association is to enhance and maintain the quality of life for residents of this area of Kalamazoo. There is no school or safe park in this part of the city — which consists of many single-parent, low-income households — and the association’s facility is seen as a safe haven for local youth. Executive Director Pat Taylor has collaborated with other groups in Kalamazoo which now offer programs at Eastside, including the bookmobile, a garden club, and Eastside Rocket Football, which runs a volunteer program to pick up trash and help seniors in the neighborhood. Because of a surge in youth violence this year, Pat wanted to keep the association’s facility open for an additional 10 hours per week for the summer. BFJ was pleased to provide a grant of $1,000 to assist with added utility bills, salaries, materials and funding for a puppet-making program. Dream Team Café
Becci Campbell and Deb Hnilo are Life Skills teachers at the Kalamazoo Juvenile Home. In 2006, they started The Dream Team Café, a small catering business run by the students. The goals of the program include teaching skills in menu planning, budgeting, food preparation and presentation, team work, taking direction, respect and politeness. Their first catered event was the Secretary’s Week luncheon for the Family Court, and the students received rave reviews. The program now includes set-menu lunches on Thursdays. Becci and Deb would like to expand the program to start catering outside events, and approached Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan to request funding for commercial kitchen equipment, aprons and hats, paper products, and a camera to better document the students’ work. BFJ was thrilled to provide a grant of $1,500 to support this important program in our community. Abstraction Theatre
Melissa Zinn has recently created a unique non-profit theater company in Kalamazoo called “Abstraction Theatre,” which provides a place for area youth to express themselves as playwrights and actors, and offers a valuable theater experience for audiences. Melissa is developing a racially diverse troupe, and any profits from productions are shared amongst its members. Future plans include expanding the theater’s work to include stage readings of local plays with youth at area libraries, and developing previews and workshops for high-school classrooms that correlate with the Michigan high-school English standards. BFJ is proud to provide a grant of $509 for membership in the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, website development and travel expenses. Mental Health Awareness Day
Power Branch is a Kalamazoo-based organization that provides peer support to increase self-sufficiency, reintegration and, ultimately, self-actualization of individuals working their way through the mental health system. Because the support is provided by peers who have themselves struggled with mental illness, the help is often more easily accepted. Reaching toward real and permanent change, the peer supporters also help clients work their way out of states of learned helplessness. Power Branch also works to de-stigmatize mental illness, a prejudice still held within our society. BFJ was very proud to provide a grant of $380 to Power Branch in support of a Mental Health Awareness Festival aimed at showing Kalamazoo residents what people with mental illness are doing to help themselves. Sue’s Loving Care
Several years ago, her best friend’s mother needed to go into an assisted living facility, and Sue Dornan began working there to help care for her. Giving elder care turned out to be Sue’s true calling. Soon she started her own state-licensed facility called “Sue’s Loving Care,” specializing in Alzheimer’s patients. Of critical importance to Sue is that each of the five residents is treated as a unique individual, and is loved for who they are. There are no set schedules for meals, each person is treated with dignity and respect each day, and the daily changes in their mental, emotional and physical needs are noted and accommodated. The residents spend much of the day in the living room so there are plenty of opportunities for interactions. Doctors, hairdressers, etc., make house calls. Because of Michigan state laws, Sue’s Loving Care is considered a private-pay facility, and is not eligible to receive state payments for care. Sue is setting up a non-profit foundation – Dornan’s Helping Hands – to apply for grants that would provide needed subsidies. BFJ is very pleased to provide a grant of $1,900 for the non-profit application, a laptop computer, and software to support this important work. Education for Collective Housing
Michael Gregor founded Kalamazoo Collective Housing (KCH) in 2005 to provide sustainable nonprofit housing; to create democratic cooperatives; and to strengthen the community by sharing resources and education. The first KCH house opened in 2006, and there are now two houses with a total of 18 members. Both are located in the Vine neighborhood of Kalamazoo and hold regular public events, including potlucks and skill-sharing workshops that have been successful in building ties with the surrounding community. Each house has significant policy-making autonomy and therefore needs strong members to be effective. In addition, some of the board members are new to the cooperative housing environment. BFJ was very pleased to provide a grant of $750 toward the KCH Education Fund to provide leadership training and cooperative education. An additional $450 matching grant is available if an equal amount of funding is secured from other sources. Cheers to the Battle Creek Boys and Girls Club
Michelle Aldaeri and her 9-year-old daughter, Taylor, approached BFJ of Southwest Michigan with a request for funding to start a cheerleading program for the girls at the Battle Creek Boys and Girls Club. Michelle grew up in the low-income neighborhood near the Boys and Girls Club and has a fierce commitment to help improve the lives of its residents. Taylor has been involved in competitive cheerleading which has improved her health as well as her eating habits. Michelle and Taylor started an inclusive cheer program at the Boys and Girls Club and 40 girls between the ages of 6 and 18 signed up! The program’s goals are to increase the girls’ physical activity, as well as to teach them the value of teamwork and making good life choices. BFJ was pleased to provide Michelle with a $1,430 grant to purchase used uniforms and pompoms from eBay, along with cartwheel mats and workbooks for classroom assignments. Michigan Communities Youth Music Project Stephanie Penn has a passion for giving back to the community. Her current project is the development of a six-month scholarship program for young area instrumental musicians. Stephanie has created a supper club in downtown Kalamazoo that operates two nights per week. Musicians of all ages (especially youth) are encouraged to perform. Patrons listen to live music while enjoying a gourmet meal by Chef Steph for a very reasonable donation. Proceeds go toward a scholarship fund for area youth. The program also works to create community networks that improve access to music lessons and discounts on instruments. Unfortunately, Stephanie was recently involved in a car accident, and many of the items used in the supper club were destroyed. BFJ provided $1,000 to purchase dishes, kitchenware and stereo equipment so that the supper club could continue its twice-weekly operations. Emerging HOPE
Pamela Haymon has developed a multicultural interactive program for low- to moderate-income single parents called Emerging HOPE (Having Only Positive Expectations). Parents are taught how to strengthen family dynamics by managing finances, enhance parent/child relations and navigate community services. To date, 500 families have participated in the program. The board of Emerging HOPE is now seeking to expand the curriculum to include life-skills training, counseling, coaching, and mentoring. BFJ of Southwest Michigan is pleased to provide a grant of $2,300 to support their non-profit application, website design, and the purchase of various office supplies. Life Ministries Tammie McDonald found herself homeless nine years ago. Unlike many in that situation, she was determined to find a way out of poverty and spent 7 years in school earning two degrees in business. Two years ago, she created Life Ministries to help other homeless families climb out from poverty. While the primary focus of the program is to locate affordable housing for these families, it also includes career development / education and counseling / personal-enrichment components. When the program is fully operational, she expects to be serving 54 families a year. BFJ of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a grant of $1,000 and a used computer to help Tammie establish and grow the program toward that goal. Doula Training
As a Bradley Method Instructor and Doula, Jessica English provides physical, emotional and informational support to women during pregnancy, birth and immediately post-partum. Doulas do not perform any medical tasks, but serve as knowledgeable guides throughout the birth journey. Mothers attended by doulas have been shown to require fewer cesarean sections, use fewer analgesics and anaesthetics, and experience less fear and post-partum depression than those who are not. Jessica had arranged for doula certification training in Kalamazoo by Doulas of North America (DONA), and wanted to make the opportunity available to others as well. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very pleased to provide two full and two half scholarships with a grant of $900. Play Ball!
Sandy Davis’ grandson, who attends Riverside School in Battle Creek, Michigan, is in a small classroom for children with ADHD and anger problems. The class size is purposefully kept small since the students can easily become overwhelmed with too much stimulation from their environment. Sandy asked school personnel why there weren’t balls and other playthings to help the children work off some of their excess energy. She was told that funds for such equipment had simply not been included in the budget for the last few years. Sandy approached Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan to request a small grant to buy a variety of balls for use in her grandson’s classroom. We were pleased to provide a grant of $100 for the purchase of this equipment. Community Kitchen Lucy Bland of Fair Food Matters (FFM) operates her mobile community kitchen in a trailer. She is applying for a food license which will allow farmers, caterers, and other non-profits to process and prepare foods — or even herbal medicines — to be available for purchase. The mobile kitchen is seen as a first step; ultimately FFM would like to make a permanent commercial kitchen available to community members. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan provided a grant of $252 for temporary food licenses through 2007. Help for a Classroom Sandy Davis introduced BFJ of Southwest Michigan to Mrs. Jackson a remarkable teacher who has an ADHD and Anger Management classroom at Riverside School in Battle Creek. She has developed unique and fun techniques that help her reach her students in creative ways. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a grant of $150 for Bean-bag chairs and an area rug so that when students need quiet time to compose themselves, they have a cozy spot to re-group.
More SW Michigan stories and contact information. Pathways to Success Several years ago, Priscilla Turgon, a successful local businesswoman with connections in the education field, started Pathways to Success, Inc., a non-profit organization that would address the needs of at-risk children in northern Delaware. Nationally, at least one in three students fails the 9th grade; 18% of dropouts have some contact with the criminal justice system. Consequently, school administrators have identified middle-school students as a critical intervention point Attitude is Contagious © is a character education program developed by Pathways to Success to help middle-school and ninth-grade students understand how their emotions and perceptions of events affect the decisions they make. The program's goals are to reduce the overall number of student disciplinary contacts and positively impact the students' desire to stay in school and complete their high-school education. A $2,500 matching grant from Bread for the Journey of Wilmington has enabled Pathways to Success to partner with Shue-Medill Middle School in Newark, Delaware and incorporate Attitude is Contagious © into the curriculum for 25 at-risk 7th and 8th grade students through the school's Positive Behavior Support Initiative. More Wilmington stories and contact information. More Stories of Community Support (2006) Copyright
© 1999 - 2008 by Wayne Muller. All rights reserved. |
||||||
|
|
