October 2008 Archives

I  spoke with Sharon Greene who is a Social Work Training Director. Greene has been working at St. Johns Child and Family Development Center for over five years and has had numerous experiences of helping children and families grow and develop positively.

Sharon Green is a licensed clinical social worker and is the social worker training director at St. Johns Child and Family Development Center. Similar to all the staff at St. John's Child and Family Development Center, she works at St. Johns CFDC because she whole-heartedly believes in the mission of the Center which is to provide innovative, multidisciplinary, quality mental health services to children, young adults, adults, and families. The center supports her and her colleagues by providing trainings and other activities in order to provide the best of care to their clients. Greene and her colleagues constantly encourage empowerment, growth, and adaptive behaviors that enable their clients to succeed in their family, school, and vocational/life choices. At the Center, they are committed to providing humanistic, responsive, culturally-sensitive services to a diverse population.

Sharon says she enjoys going to work every day and appreciates her dedicated colleagues and the work they do in the community.

   

The Miles Memorial Playhouse not only has wonderful arts but it also has wonderful staff. I met with Justin Yoffe who's is the Playhouse Director/Cultural Arts Program Supervisor. He does the booking, manages contracts, and so much more.

Justin is a nice and fun person who is very passionate about his job. He loves the arts and he loves the energy that Santa Monica carries. He sees that there is a lot of creativity in this city and that it is very edgy and progressive. He is just so excited to see how it is developing.

Justin Yoffe likes bringing the arts to the youth. He believes that it is important for them to get involved. Justin listens to what the community has to say and then responds to it by giving them what they want.

It is incredible to see what Miles Playhouse has accomplished. In its early history, it was a little used and  little known theatre, but now it has blossomed into a very active and well known theatre. Raising the awareness has definitely been a huge accomplishment for the Miles Playhouse.  So has Downbeat 720. Another huge accomplishment is the impact that it has had on people's lives. This place has given them the confidence they need to strive for what they really desire. Justin Yoffe really likes being a part of all of this because he sees how Miles Playhouse can actually make a difference in people's lives.

Terry allowed himself to be a part of all the opportunities at Turning Point and took advantage off all they had to offer. This gave Terry guidance, support, and confidence. The confidence gave him the strength and belief that he could live a great life. He did. He found his way to the life he truly wanted and is now on the right path.

After a bumpy road, there is hope. Terry can tell you there is hope and anyone can learn to make the right choice for change. He can tell you "A person shouldn't be afraid to change. It's never too late and you're never too old." Even after being married, divorced, and raising a son, he was able to change his life and return to the good life he once knew before he fell into the cold world without his family. Now having gone through rehabilitation, Terry has a good home with a good job.

The Verdi Chorus first started in the Verdi Ristorant di Musica in Santa Monica. The restaurant first featured them as entertainment for guests. Then the owners added an opera chorus. It all began from there and grew to where it is at now with over 50 voices and so many lovely performances.

This wonderful all-volunteer chorus group has all types of wonderfully talented people from different professions and from all ages; from amateur to professional artists that come together and perform. Together they create a great chorus that would love to perform for all Santa Monica residents.  So here's your chance YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT on November 22 and 23. It's going to be their 25^th Anniversary and they will be having a very special guest and very special performances. It's going to be a series of great performances and the best part is it only cost a fraction of the cost of an actual great operatic experience. For students, it's only $10. That's amazing! Instead of heading to the movies, which might be $11.25, try out this new experience that is near to you for a low price and it will be an experience that just might change you. 

The Verdi chorus can give you a great experience that you won't find just anywhere. They have rehearsed some of the best choral works from opera. Richard Hutman, a vice president, who works hard singing great music and helping create an entertaining experience for the audience. Tell a friend and come on out for this all-ages fun filled experience. Order tickets at www.verdichorus.org 

In 1998, one thousand people marched, as a visual sign of peace, for all the people who were killed in the Pico nieghboorhood. Those people demanded a center to be built to "Stop the Killing."  Pico Youth and Family Center (PYFC) was created as a violence prevention program. They do outreach to the community with different programs, which are available for free.

"We build relationships, we get to know people mainly through working with the community. Whenever someone needs help we provide them with tools that they need to be able to over come what they're going through," said Alex Aldana, the center's community organizer and event coordinator.

They offer services for youth and familes, counseling, job training, music recording, and tutoring. These are programs that benefit youth in the community and develop leadership and empowerment skills.They do a lot of events for the community. One event coming up is the HIP HOP UNITY CONFERENCE where they will be spreading knowledge to the youth and adults about HIP HOP culture, which includes the DJ, the MC, the B-BOY, and the GRAFFITI ARTIST.

Though they are currently in the transitional phase to a new location on 711 Pico Blvd., just one block from Santa Monica High School, I have high hopes, and give my best wishes, that they will keep making an impact on our community. The grand opening will be on September 13. There will be live music and art on display for anyone who wants to attend.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.picoyouth.org

Why waste hundreds of dollars each week on counseling, therapy, or other family services when you can come to Family Service of Santa Monica/Vista Del Mar?

Interested? So am I!

Beginning in 1925, a group of women saw a need for services for families in Santa Monica.  This led to creating a non-profit organization with counseling, therapy, family service social workers, parenting groups, and employee assistance programs for children and adults. This all soon merged together in 2001 in Vista Del Mar, a Jewish orphans society looking to create a second location. Another great program they offer is school-based campus. There are locations at McKinley Elementary, John Muir Elementary, and Santa Monica High School campuses. Even though it's not free, they have Medi-Cal and a sliding-fee scale.

Ready for the best part? Students don't have to pay at these campus-based schools.They help up to 1200 people yearly. This organization is incredible and very useful for everyone and anyone at a low cost. If you need more information about Family Service Santa Monica/Vista Del Mar visit www.vistadelmar.org or call directly to 310.451.9747. Their office hours are 9-830 pm M-Th; 9-4 pm on Fridays; and closed weekends at the Santa Monica location.

Why pay more when you can come to Family Service Santa Monica/Vista Del Mar? Same oppurtunites but cheaper!

OPCC shared an inspiring story that went down in their organization and the reason why they do what they do.

According to Isabelle, "Freedom was always at the top of my pyramid of values. I thought this would be achieved through love; the exact opposite happened," she said. Isabelle met her future husband and soon became pregnant. Her marriage was hard.  "Seventeen years of psychological and emotional abuse that was covert and filled with anxiety, chaos, isolation and battles," she said.

Isabelle attended several support groups and they all offered something but not what she needed. The abuse was getting worse and it became overt.   She was a mother of  three angry teenagers. Their father  provided opportunities for drug and alcohol use. She was attacked to the point were she had to defend herself while she also struggled with debts.  Isabelle said her husband began to threaten her. He said that he would throw her out without any money.

After Isabelle gained full legal custody of her three enraged teens, she had no money.  She applied for government benefits and then moved to Santa Monica were she was directed to Sojourn. Sojourn is a place that provides battered women and their children a safe place to regroup, rebuild, and re-establish their self-esteem and their lives. Isabelle said that Sojourn offered her services and the resources in a holistic approach. "I was free from judgment and blame."  She said she felt good about making her own decisions and taking charge of her life and recovery. Sojourn was great for her  and they helped support her children and helped put a stop to violence in her life.

She developed an awareness that protects her from further violence. Sojourn helped her pick up the pieces of her life. "I am an empowered women, anchored in my spirit and beliefs and a role model for my children," she said.

Want to know more about California history and California art?

Well, at the California Heritage Museum they have a great story about one of the historic people in the museum, Mr. Frank Taylor. Frank Taylor set up a business in 1921 known as the Santa Monica Brick Company.  It was located  where Bergamont Station now stands. During the expansion of L.A in the 1920s, most of the bricks to build Santa Monica's Spanish-style houses came from there. Taylor also made pavers and some decorative tile for architectural purposes.

In 1929, the stock market crashed and no-one was building any houses anymore. And as the nation headed deeper into the depression, Frank had a factory full of people depending on him for their livelihood and no work around. Frank told his nephew "Well, if people only have a couple of bucks to spend, then we'll make things that only cost a couple of bucks to buy."  We need more people like Mr. Taylor today but most people aren't like this. This shows that Mr. Taylor cooperated when the nation was in need.

He developed the decorative tile side of the business, producing bright tile pictures of Spanish dancers, California poppies and Rancho singers. He contacted a local furniture maker to make small tables for $1 a piece, then he set the tile pictures in the top and sold the completed tables for only $3. He made enough to keep food on the table for his workforce until the depression ended.

The tables are now sought after as part of California-style decorative arts and some collectors cut the legs off them and display them as wall-mounted pictures. But I think that misses part of Frank's brilliant insight into his customers. In hard times, nobody can justify buying a tile picture, but a tile table - that's useful! The tables are beautiful and knowing the story behind them makes them even more special.

If you want to hear more stories about different historic moments at the museum go check it out. There's more historic people and fine art and  I know for a fact that you will learn something new.