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Mentoring Organization Brings Art to At-risk youths

From the Los Angeles Times

Create Now's Take heArt program runs workshops that connect artists, writers and musicians with youths on probation or in foster care.

By Gale Holland

December 30, 2008

After almost 20 years in the film business, Jill Gurr started a script-writing workshop for youths in detention on a variety of criminal convictions. To her astonishment, several illiterate young men in the class learned to read and write.

When they saw their own words incorporated into a script, they were eager to read it, she said during a break in an art workshop for foster girls at a recent Christmas crafts fair in downtown Los Angeles. The script-writing project became the seed of Create Now, a Los Angeles mentoring organization Gurr started 12 years ago that connects artists, musicians and writers with high-risk youths.

"L.A. runs on the arts; it's the main economy in the city," said Gurr, the organization's founder and executive director. "We have all the creative people. They may not have money, but they have time." She said art gives disadvantaged youths a voice, makes them feel better about themselves and opens their eyes to good professions.

Create Now is among a number of Southern California nonprofit organizations supported by The Times Holiday Campaign, part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund. Create Now's Take heArt program, which runs workshops by professional artists for at-risk, low-income youths, received $10,000 from the fund this year.

"Gina," a teenager who lives in a group foster home in Pasadena, was decorating address books at the Create Now workshop and thinking about her mother. Art was the last thing they did together before her mother's death, she said.

"I love art; it reminds me of my childhood," Gina said. (The name is a pseudonym because foster care regulations prohibit identifying youths in the system.) "You can tell how people are feeling by the way they paint," said the teen, whose favorite motif is red-and-black hearts and skulls.

Josef Sanchez, a one-time L.A. County Probation Commission appointee on hand at the Create Now booth, said the group is among few organizations that reach youths on probation or in foster care, many of whom have been abused or neglected. Sanchez, who has spoken at thousands of schools, said "kids are so engaged when they are talking about the arts. Their compassion, their joy is restored."

Gurr said artists involved in the program include drummer Mark Schulman, who has toured with the singer Pink and led a motivational rap seminar at a juvenile detention center in Sylmar. One of the students at the seminar wrote that he was inspired to change his life. That student now works at Universal Studios and attends college, she said.

After a 14-year-old African American girl was killed in the Harbor Gateway area two years ago,partly because of her race, Create Now collaborated on a peace mural with 18 fourth-graders from the neighborhood. At a festival to unveil the project, which featured images of Cesar Chavez and Gandhi, an activist group of Latino mothers invited an African American mother to show African art at their table, Gurr said.

The group also has sponsored hundreds of children to attend performances, including the Ashes and Snow photo exhibition in Santa Monica, Cirque de Soleil and Circus Vargas.

"Many have never been to a cultural event," the executive director said. "One of the youths said, 'What's an intermission?'"

Gurr said she solicits artists through Craigslist or online volunteer sites. "They're thrilled to come for a couple hours," she said. "For writers, it's great to know how to speak the slang they use on the streets."

Kasra Farahani responded to an online call to help out at the crafts booth. A concept artist and art director who recently worked on film director Tim Burton's upcoming "Alice in Wonderland," Farahani said he doesn't have much time for volunteering but feels compelled to do something.

"I feel like I have an amazing family, an unbelievable great family, good friends, and I make a comfortable living doing substantial work," said Farahani, 30. "I want to give back."

gale.holland@latimes.com

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Mural Project at 186th Street Elementary School for Harbor Gateway Children

Featuring the Work of Renowned Mural and Wallscape Artist Tait Roelofs

LOS ANGELES — Create Now Executive Director Jill Gurr announced today the start of a unique mural project for fourth grade students at the 186th Street Elementary School in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles. The names of the 18 participating students were announced on January 18th during the schools 3rd Annual “Stepping Out For Peace” March honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students were chosen by their teachers for their leadership skills and interest in art.

The mural project, which starts on Tuesday, January 22nd, is part of Create Now’s Take heArt visual arts program. The project consists of an 8-week workshop, led by Tait Roelofs, a Los Angeles-based mural and wallscape artist, resulting in the creation of a mural themed “PEACE” and located on a neutral, public space. The mural will debut on April 19th as part of the inaugural International Cultural Festival, presented by Create Now.

“Many of these kids face the dangers of gang violence, drugs and racial intolerance on a daily basis,” states Gurr. “By bringing this mural project to their neighborhood, Create Now is providing an opportunity to transform their personal hope for peace into a visual expression the entire community can experience.” In addition to the workshop, participating students and their families will be invited to cultural events throughout Southern California through Create Now’s Artistic Journeys program.

Create Now’s Take heArt program is supported in part by the In-N-Out Burger Foundation, Macy’s West Foundation and the Laura Jane Musser Fund. Create Now is an independent, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996. Our mission is to change the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through creative arts mentoring, resources and opportunities. For more than 12 years, we’ve reached over 12,000 of these troubled children and youth. To learn more, visit www.createnow.org or email info@createnow.org.

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International Cultural Festival Celebrates Diversity in Harbor Gateway area

The Festival is in Collaboration with the Harbor Gateway Task Force and Features a Free Day of Music, Food, and Safe Family Fun

LOS ANGELES - The International Cultural Festival is the culmination event for the Create Now Peace Mural project and takes place on Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 186th Street Elementary School, located at 1581 West 186th Street in Gardena, California. The Festival is FREE and open to the public.

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The Festival celebrates the diversity of the Harbor Gateway area and is Create Now’s response to the rise in gang activity in the community. Many of the people from the neighborhood are helping to make the decorations, prepare the food and organize the event. The Festival provides an opportunity for everyone to share their cultural diversity through special dances, music, costumes and food. More importantly, it allows neighbors - adults and children alike - a safe and neutral location to spend time together.

The Festival includes continual performances by community organizations and food booths representing the cultural diversity of this area. In addition, an official welcome ceremony including the mural unveiling will take place at 12:00 p.m. and includes the International Children’s Choir, and special guest speakers. Activities throughout the day include arts and crafts, games, clowns, face painting, and much more.

Create Now has been collaborating with the Harbor Gateway Task Force during the last year to help stop the violence by initiating a Peace Mural with 19 fourth-grade children from this neighborhood.

The Peace Mural Project, which is part of Create Now’s Take heArt visual arts program, began in January 2008. It is an 8-week workshop led by Tait Roelofs, a Los Angeles-based mural and wallscape artist, resulting in the creation of a mural themed “PEACE.” The mural is located on a neutral, public space on the campus of 186th Street Elementary School.

Create Now, as a member of the Harbor Gateway Task Force, is collaborating with other members including the Neighborhood Council, LAPD, city officials, and different community-based organizations and individuals.

Create Now is an independent, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996 whose mission is to change the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through creative arts mentoring, education, resources and opportunities. Since its inception, Create Now has reached over 12,000 youth through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs. To learn more about Create Now visit www.createnow.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Gurr, Founder and Executive Director Create Now 2007 Wilshire Boulevard #818 Los Angeles, CA 90057 (213) 484-8500

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**Create Now** Featured on *CNN’S Anderson Cooper 360°* Segment on Friday, June 8, 2007

LOS ANGELES – Create Now, a non-profit organization designed to bring the healing power of the arts to the most troubled children in the community, will be featured on Anderson Cooper 360° on Friday, June 8, 2007 as a part of a new segment entitled "Giving 360." This segment profiles individuals with great courage, strength and an amazing spirit.

The segment will focus on KL (nee Michael Monroe), who has been mentored by Create Now Founder Jill Gurr since they met at a Create Now sponsored Talent Show at Camp Fred Miller nine years ago. KL, now 23, is currently mentoring others while providing inspirational Rap Music concerts to thousands of troubled youth. The segment will also highlight Gurr’s transition from a glamorous career as a Script Supervisor working with movie stars on films all over the world, to founding a non-profit assisting 10,000 high-risk and at-risk youth in Southern California over the last decade.

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