Voices From The Hood

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

SUMMER ART OPPORTUNITIES!!

SUMMER ART CLASSES

**All classes: 1 hour/ $15 per hour**

Contact Jessica: 805.402.1118 for more information

5% of your payment goes to support the Salvation Army Summer Youth Programs

(http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/youth-camps-and-recreation)

CRAZY CREATE (Deadline to register- Sunday, July 3rd)

Have fun learning different art skills to empower you and bring out your unique self.

Ages: 6-12 years

Dates:July 4th-July 8th / 9-10am

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Day 1:My Vision Board
**Create a vision board using collage materials to describe all the things you like about you!
Day 2: I am Unique
**Create a painting that represents the things that make you unique.
Day 3: What I Wanna Be.
**Talk with other kids about what you want to be when you grow up. Create a puppet that looks like you in your future as an adult.
Day 4: Move to the Beat
**Listen to different types of music and create your own group dance to the beat.

WEARABLE ART (Deadline to register, Friday, July 8th)

Ages:6-12 years

Dates:July 11th-July 15th / 9-10am

Day 1: If you Were a Superhero
**Learn how to create a wrist cuff from recycled materials that expresses the unique things about you...your superpowers!
Day 2: Junk to Treasure
**Create a 'junk' collage of your name out of recycled plastic, bottle caps, chip bags, and things you use every day. It's amazing what you can make with trash!
Day 3: T-shirt braiding
**Braid recycled tshirts together to create belts, headbands, or jewelry.
Day 4: Soda Can Jewelry
**Help recycle and create your own soda can medallion necklace with your name engraved on it.

Monday, May 23, 2016

"I know who I am," said the lady at Home Depot as she rang up some plants I bought the other day.
"It hurts to stand on this floor all day. I am glad I have a job, but maybe I need another one, to work in my purpose. I don't mean to be snobby, but I know who I am, you know what I mean? Maybe I should open my own business." As I listened, I saw life in this woman, and purpose. I shared with her how anything is possible with God. She smiled saying, "I receive that blessing."
Do we really know who we are? Thankful someone does:) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.

"I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

Monday, May 2, 2016

Lowe's

As I go into Lowe's the other day to get paint...I had to wait like normal. Well, I'm expecting that since it's near dinnertime and the store is full. No big deal.

An older gentleman in the paint department is helping many people, and when he is finished and walks over to help me, he apologizes over and over again, how sorry he is for not being quick enough. "I'm trying to get better."

I tell him it is ok, no need to rush.

I can't tell you in this city, how many times a Black man will apologize to me or the time a clerk called me to checkout first at the grocery store, when there was a Black gentleman in front of me!! It makes me feel so sad and strange because it feels like it puts me on a higher level and I do not deserve any special treatment. I'm thankful God sees us as part of His family.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.- Romans 10:12

Sorry I'm Walkin' by You!

On a nice day in St Louis, as I was walking from the bus, an older gentleman crossed over the street to the sidewalk, apologizing for '"walking by you." I was surprised with the comment and told him it didn't matter to me because we are both people and just walking. I felt sad that a black man in this city apologizes that he is walking by me...a white woman when there is nothing that makes me better than anyone else, but made me remember as a white woman, I do have privelege, we do have divides here, and I am constantly aware of it.

He went on to say he was so upset because his girlfriend wouldn't stop talking and yelling at him and made him so mad, that he had to leave so he wouldn't hurt her. He talked about recently being released from 'the pen' and how he just wants to be happy.

I asked him what he thought would make him happy, and shared with him that I am not always happy...shared about life...that there's no good in me (as he stopped and looked me in the eyes), but that I have joy no matter what the circumstances....that God in me gives me joy and any goodness or good stuff in me is from Him. He says, "I'm saved"..and I talk to him about how I'm not into 'religion,' but real life joy, real life relationship with Jesus because of what HE did for me. He stopped, looked, and listened... this man who was much older than me that I look up to just because of his wisdom of age...my brother.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Learning in Prison

The other day, at my early morning bus stop, met a woman who was headed to her parole officer for her meeting. She shared about her time in the prison system for 3 years and the lack of development, education, or growth opportunities for people in there. She had a lot to say about her thoughts about what happens to people when they try to re enter society. We just had a bill passed that bans the box for felony convictions on hiring applications, aiding in more job opportunities for those out of prison and reducing crime.
Seventy percent of people released from prison commit another crime within three years, and part of this recidivism rate is due in part to how difficult it is for them to find a job.

Read more: http://nationswell.com/states-reduce-crime-rate-by-removing-check-off-box-on-job-applications/#ixzz46Ih8yqtW

http://nationswell.com/about-us/

What would you do? I challenge you.

A man...yelling and cussing out a woman with two kids as she walked down the street. She was asking him to get away. He continued following her, harassing her. Neighbors came out to their porch steps...to watch. No one intervened. What would you do?

A woman...at McDonalds...with 10 kids to corral on her own. Looked stressed...yelling and cussing at the kids. She pushed one and the security guard says..."There is nothing we can do?!" Yeah right. What would you do?