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Now! web site.
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| Issue:
#2, Vol. 2 |
April/May,
2007 |
 As
the resident "web guy" at Create
Now!, I couldn't be more excited about
introducing our newly-designed newsletter! We
are so happy to be able to share with you the
successes and joys of making permanent, positive
changes in the lives of so many young people,
right in your mailbox every couple of months.
Thanks so much for supporting us by reading the
newsletter and sharing our programs and stories
with your friends. Without each of you, whatever
your level of support, Create
Now! wouldn't exist, and these kids would
continue on a downward spiral. We're especially
proud to share Ignacio's and Alyssa's stories
with you this month.
Now, enjoy!
Lynda Williams
IT Support &
Web Services Manager |
| WHAT'S NEW |
 Create
Now! is Named a Finalist in the
ReZoom Contest
ReZoom.com,
a website that is an online gathering place, is
awarding $200,000 to more than 20 charities across
the nation as part of their "A Better World" awards
program. Their goal is to honor nonprofits across
the country that make a difference, involve us,
touch us, help us and inspire us to take action.
Over 5,000 nonprofit organizations dedicated to
healing, protecting, restoring, empowering, supporting,
enriching and improving their local communities
have entered this competition.
Thanks to you, our supporters who voted daily for Create
Now!, it has just been announced that we
are one of 20 finalists in Region # 1 (California)
This gives us the chance to compete for $5,000
and if selected, to enter the National Award competition
for $100,000. We appreciate those of you who took
time to vote for us. Keep your positive thoughts
going, as the judges are now making their final
decisions. |
| SUCCESS STORIES |
Gang
Member Changes Life Through Art Mentoring
 It's
been over a year since Create
Now! received a call from Ms. Avallone,
the Principal of James Fenimore Cooper Community
Day School in San Pedro. This continuation
school has 150 students who are all considered
at risk of not graduating from high school. Many
of the kids have discipline problems, are drug
users or pregnant teens, and 40% of these students
eventually drop out. Ms. Avallone hoped
that we might be able to help one of them, a
bright and talented artist named Ignacio.
Just over a year ago, when Ignacio Arguello,
Jr. was 17 years old, he had a busy social
life that revolved around his gang called GAC
("Ghetto and Crazy"). Ignacio was active with
the Tag Crew, spraying graffiti wherever he
could. He never knew his father and was staying
with his aunt, uncle, cousins and grandmother
in a small apartment in San Pedro because of
family problems and gang issues in Long Beach.
Ignacio told Create
Now! staff, "Nobody really helps me.
Nobody really tells me, 'Don't go to jail.
Don't bang,' you know." ...click here to read more
A
Mentoring Relationship Grows
By
Jessie O'Neil & Alyssa
 It's ALL about
relationships. "The
first time that I met Kemisha
I didn't like her. Until the next day she started calling
me 'sister,' we had a close bond ever since.
We went through 'ups and downs,' 'smiles and
frowns,' but that still didn't stop me from loving
her. By calling
Kemisha my sister I mean that I could trust her,
that she was there for me when I had a problem.
I had a closer bond with Kemisha than any of
the other girls in the house because she understood
me and she was my first roommate. If I never
met Kemisha I wouldn't be what I am today."
Kemisha lived with Alyssa at the group home I
volunteered at. Although I am still a mentor
for Alyssa, the home has since been closed down,
and the girls, including Kemisha and Alyssa,
are currently in different foster homes and other
facilities. However, this unfortunate fact
has not altered the impact of Alyssa's relationship
with her "sister." Although the resources and
facilities available to Alyssa will continue
to change, the relationships she has gained will
endure. This was and continues to be my goal
in volunteering with Create
Now!. Creative expression and in particular,
poetry, was my key to engaging Alyssa; our relationship
is what has made the difference.
...click
here to read more
|
| KIDZ KREATIONZ |
Ignacio
in Color
|
| OUR FEATURED SPONSOR |
|
Northrop Grumman Once Again Supports Create
Now! Programs
Create Now! is
for the ninth year in a row proud to partner
with the Northrop Grumman Corporation on our
creative arts programs. Northrop Grumman
has been a true community partner, and their
corporate giving is at the pinnacle of their
company culture.
On April 19, Founder Jill Gurr and Development
Director Robin Garfield attended a ceremony at
the California Science Center to congratulate
over 200 organizations that were honored as partners
of Northrop Grumman's Community Grants Program.
A highlight of the evening was the keynote speaker,
Robert Goodwin, former Chairman and CEO of the
Points of Light Foundation, who discussed the
need for all of us, as Americans, to help those
less fortunate - including young people who believe
their only way to be accepted is in a gang without
a creative or positive outlet or mentor in their
lives. His words spoke loudly as he called
upon each of us to do more.
With that, we urge each of you, our supporters,
to do more. Become a mentor, make a donation
of cash or in-kind products, or attend a fundraiser. To
make a donation today, visit
our donations page. |
|
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. The organization
serves youth who have been abused, neglected,
abandoned, orphaned, are left homeless, runaways,
foster children, teen parents, victims of domestic
violence, children of prisoners, substance
abusers, gang members or incarcerated. For
the past ten years, we've reached almost
10,000 of these troubled youth and given them
a new chance at life.
We're glad you're sharing our successes with us.
Thank you for being a part of Create Now!
Sincerely,
Jill Gurr
Founder and Executive Director
Create Now! |
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