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Ashland | Atlanta | Austin | Flagstaff | Indianapolis | Kauai | Los Angeles | Marin County | Oakland View stories from 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 & earlier |
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Over the River Oral History Project
“Did you ever chance upon a beautiful stretch of river and reflect on why it is so? Did you consider that someone loved it so much that they worked hard to keep it clear of pollution, trash, and destructive projects?” Diana Hartel and Madrona Arts asked these very questions, and the questions led them to extraordinary people who have dedicated heart and soul to defending the rivers that sustain our communities. The Over the River Oral History Project explores their lives, sources of inspiration and messages for future generations. Based in Ashland, Over the River interviews river defenders in five regions across the country, where communities have made an uncommon effort to defend, preserve, and restore special river ecosystems – including the Klamath River (Oregon-California), the Upper Mississippi, the Bronx and NYC watershed, the Chattahoochee, and the Upper Rio Grande. Southern Oregon University student interns will help create an audio slide show, to share the stories of these committed activists with school children in Oregon and California, visitors to the Jefferson Nature Center, and on YouTube. The project hopes that these stories can inspire us to keep our rivers clean and free, linking us with those who went before us and help us bridge to those to come. Bread for the Journey of Ashland was happy to contribute $400 to this important work. It Takes a Village to Heal the Earth When Tracie Sage was a young, practical teen, she recalls, “I felt called and compelled to learn the ‘old-fashioned’ ways in case the modern world crumbled, which seemed to be a real possibility in my eyes. The need for sustainable green choices, connection, cooperation and equanimity is becoming ever more apparent.” This has instilled in her a passion for finding ways to empower people toward sustainable living. To that end, Sage has traveled to observe successful sustainable communities in Europe to explore models that might work here at home. Sage is on her way to acquiring land in southern Oregon and solidifying her vision of building a sustainable village including a permaculture farm, and a research and education center. Bread for the Journey of Ashland made a $500 grant to help her bring this dream to life. The Gate to Change The Gate to Change assists women in southern Oregon who are involved with the criminal justice system through parole, probation, or family court. Diana Romero and her staff help these women become self-sufficient and reduce their risk of recidivism through mentoring, unconditional positive regard, and a transitional housing program to help them get back on their feet and on solid ground in their lives. It is an ambitious and compassionate project, which will ultimately include a second phase to provide support and resources for the children of incarcerated parents. Bread for the Journey of Ashland appreciatively awarded $900 to assist The Gate to Change in obtaining their non-profit status. A Voice for the Voiceless
At 85, Agnes Baker Pilgrim is the oldest living female directly descended from the ancient Takelma Indians. Honored as a “Living Treasure” by her tribe and as a “Living Cultural Legend” by the Oregon Council of the Arts, “Grandma Aggie” travels the U.S. and around the world as a “Voice for the Voiceless,” urging us to remember what we all share as people of Mother Earth. In 2004, she and 12 other indigenous elders from around the world formed the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. During this past year, the Grandmothers traveled to the Vatican and New York City offering prayers and ceremony. Aggie also hosted a five-day Council Gathering at her reservation where 400 attendees offered prayers and ceremony, and then later in the year she flew to Australia to share her message. Bread for the Journey of Ashland has been honored to support Aggie’s work with several grants throughout the years. This year we awarded Aggie $200 to continue her life-sustaining work. For more information, visit www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org. A Window into the Human Spirit The Peace Wall
At Bread for the Journey, we know that the most healing things are often birthed when people gather to break bread together – that’s how Bread for the Journey came into being! Around a different table, in Ashland, Oregon, a group of friends gathered in March 2007. During dinner, Jean Bakewell shared her vision of creating a Peace Fence in Ashland, where people of all stripes could post positive expressions about the human spirit and hopes for peace and the planet's well-being. Jean’s dream was to transform a n unsightly chain-link fence running alongside a popular walking path next to the railway line into a beautiful Peace Fence. Friends and others in the community responded enthusiastically to an invitation to create fabric art panels expressing hope and peace. The night before Mother’s Day, 67 panels were attached to the fence as a surprise offering to the town. Eventually, more than 200 works of art, many by schoolchildren, decorated the fence. In 2008, the Peace Fence was destroyed by vandals. However, the community has responded to this violation with a creative new idea – a permanent Peace Wall. Each panel of the Peace Fence had been photographed when originally placed on the fence, making it possible for their images to be reproduced as durable ceramic tiles. The new Peace Wall, to be erected in front of the library, will be unveiled on International Peace Day in September, 2009. For more information visit http://www.peacefence.org. Bread for the Journey of Ashland was happy to grant $700 to this beautiful and inspirational community project. Money Metamorphosis
Recent news coverage highlights tragic stories of people being caught in the downward spiral of this economic recession – neighbors losing their homes, struggling under crushing debt and medical bills, and some committing suicide. Our culture is in desperate need of turning around our relationship with money. Crystal Arnold is working to inspire and train people to develop healthy relationships with money. Her Money Metamorphosis workshops (http://moneymetamorphosis.us) teach practical skills so that participants learn to track their money, align their finances with their values, and work toward fulfilling their life’s vision. The three-week series facilitates a powerful shift in participants’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward money, opening new and vitalizing pathways as people learn to integrate money into their lives through conscious attention. In order to make the workshops available to all, regardless of ability to pay, Bread for the Journey of Ashland was happy to grant $700 for scholarships. Youth Education and Awareness Committee
Local food and sustainability. These are a rallying cry for the Youth Education and Awareness Committee under the auspices of Transition Town Ashland and the local food security movement. The committee is educating and inspiring area youth to not only eat more local and organic food, but to motivate them toward an interest in gardening and growing food, as well as promoting Transition Town and the local food movement to their parents. Bread for the Journey of Ashland provided $500 to help the students create and sell special T-shirts and fabric patches at local Earth Day events. Students and community artists designed and printed the organic hemp/cotton shirts for the project’s fundraising efforts during the highly visible spring celebrations. More Ashland stories and contact information.
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A Sanctuary for Young Scholars
More Atlanta stories and contact information.
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Images Shine of African American Family Wholeness
Positive portrayals of African American families are so often missing in the media. The images in Narvell Reed’s art shine a light on the goodness, strength, and wholeness of the African American experience. Narvell’s dream is to share this beauty with a larger audience and invite others to offer their stories as well. Her artistic philosophy lies in a quote from author Alice Walker – “Artists are but messengers, and on them lies the responsibility of uniting the world.” Bread for the Journey of Austin is supporting Narvell’s work to “unite the world” with a grant of $1,000 to help her create the Austin African American interactive website, Souls of Seven. Souls of Seven will feature art and stories of African American families in their wholeness, with links to other uplifting sites. Narvell envisions that these alternative images of the African American family will help unite the community with a shared vision of positive strength and wholeness. Blackland Community Development Corporation Blackland Community Development Corporation’s transitional housing program provides homeless and near-homeless families with twelve months of case-management support, including life-skills classes and low-cost housing, allowing them time to focus on improving their life situation. Bread for the Journey of Austin was asked to help fund a weekly evening meal to support the families of parents attending a 12-week life-skills class series. BFJ of Austin decided to seek a more sustainable solution than a one-time grant, by seeking out restaurants and other food businesses that would be willing to provide continuous sustenance for an ongoing cycle of classes. BFJ of Austin board members met with local restaurants, a church, and a grocery store to solicit assistance. One restaurant donated gift cards, and a board member provided one home-cooked meal, for a total value of $200. Other board members identified a grocery store taking applications for donations. Isabelle Headrick and Pam Johnson of BCDC welcomed the assistance and felt encouraged in their continued search for meal providers. Project Abundant Life Capoeira classes are offered to youth and adults through Project Abundant Life in East Austin where one of the teachers, Dorian Layssard, grew up. Dorian has been teaching these classes since 2005 and was recently joined by Angela Alexander. An ancient martial art of African origin, Capoeira Angola is one of the many cultural tools that has been used to help break the chains of enslavement in Brazil, drawing various elements from dance, self-defense, ritual, and musical performance. The form combines fluid dance-like movements with kicks, head-butts and tripping sweeps, all played close to the ground with an appearance of playfulness and vulnerability. Musical accompaniment on traditional instruments demonstrates the rhythmic heart of the art, while serving to mask its power. Project Abundant Life offers lessons free to students 18 and under and is made affordable to older students who can pay. Project Abundant Life, through Capoeira Angola, strives to strengthen students’ knowledge of self and identity. Bread for the Journey of Austin is privileged to support this effort with a $1,000 grant to help the project move from a borrowed facility into its very own space. Breaking it Down! When the City of Austin adopted a Zero-Waste Plan to reduce the amount of waste that gets sent to the landfill by 90%, the timing seemed perfect for Jeff Paine and Melanie MacFarlane to launch their dreamchild - Break it Down! As Jeff and Melanie describe it, “Our vision is a decentralized composting system that serves local businesses while simultaneously providing educational composting programs for schools and local residents.” Break it Down’s composting classes promote composting as a way for positively dealing with waste, while improving soil quality to a growing community of gardeners. Promoting backyard composting also helps slow climate change by keeping waste out of landfills, thereby reducing methane and carbon emissions, which is right in line with the city's Zero-Waste Future plan. Break it Down's educational efforts will also serve schools, educators, and students by integrating composting curriculum into classrooms. They are already at work on a school composting program to help students create and manage composting systems for their cafeteria. Bread for the Journey of Austin was happy to support this project with a $1000 grant to purchase their first trailer, business cards, and compost collection bins. An Oasis to Cultivate Higher Education
At Travis, some of the College Forward students wanted to transform a school courtyard into a place where students could have a restful place to study. The enclosed yet visible courtyard was unused and had not been maintained for some time. The students wanted to not only beautify the area for studying, but also to plant herbs for a Culinary Institute on campus. Bread for the Journey of Austin was thrilled to contribute $525 toward the project to buy the herbs, perennials, a bench, and solar lighting to help the students make over the courtyard. Together, the College Forward participants met to dig out weeds and renew the struggling garden. With support from Bread for the Journey and with hard work and enthusiasm, the area was transformed into a restful oasis within the school. La Fuente (“Fountain”) Quenches Thirst for Knowledge
In a city with an estimated 300,000 Spanish-speakers, local non-profit La Fuente sponsors Austin’s only GED preparation program offered in Spanish. Presently, about 20 students participate in the weekend program to help them master the five subject areas that they will be evaluated on for their GED. The demand for the GED-preparation class is so high that two additional classes will soon be offered on the weekends. The teacher, Susana Trujeque, is an immigrant herself who is inspired to help others make a successful transition to this country. She told Bread for the Journey, “I believe that I am here to offer my service and to believe in the people I meet who are seeking support to realize their hopes and to advance them.” Bread for the Journey of Austin was happy to give the program $1,000 to help purchase supplies such as scientific calculators, books, test guides, and computer software. GALS Support Mothers in Need
Brigid Dodson is a nurse and mother with a heart for assisting women who have no one to support them during childbirth. Numerous clinical studies have found that having a doula – or a knowledgeable, experienced companion – present at birth tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications and reduces the need for pain medication, epidurals, cesareans, and other medical interventions. In addition, women with this support are less likely to experience post-partum depression, feel greater support and self-esteem, and have more success with breastfeeding. To offer every woman this support, Brigid founded GALS (Giving Austin Labor Support) http://givingaustinlaborsupport.org/. The program, offered at a local hospital, trains volunteers, similar to doulas, on how to offer support and comfort to women who have no one with them during this critical time. Bread for the Journey of Austin was pleased to provide a grant of $1,000 to purchase uniforms for the volunteers, training guides and supplies. The program is now expanding to serve women in prison, young women at Gardner Betts Juvenile Detention Center and women at the family detention center for seekers of political asylum. As GALS continues to strategically reach out to women in need they realize their core belief that “Every woman deserves to have nurturing care during their childbirth experience.” More Austin stories and contact information.
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Keeping out the Cold
Winter in the mountains can make the most vulnerable among us even more vulnerable. To benefit the poor, lower the carbon footprint, and demonstrate the power of community organizing, Dr. Roman Coles of Northern Arizona University’s Center for Community, Culture, and Environment brought together government agencies, utility companies, and activist groups to create the Flagstaff Weatherization Program. The program trains workers to install insulation, windows, and other energy-saving features in older homes, providing jobs to the unemployed and saving homeowners utility costs. To reassure members of the low-income Southside neighborhood that the program is legitimate, Rom sought trusted residents willing to let strangers into their home to serve as ambassadors for the program. He found Catholic Sisters Elizabeth and Augustine (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) whose old, hand-built convent is a center of hope, love, and service for the whole community. As winter approached, due to the complexity of partnerships involved, the funding for this demonstration project was not yet available. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff stepped into the gap with $2,000 for materials, and volunteers were able to weatherize the convent just before a record-breaking blizzard. The grant also supported a block party for a huge crowd who honored the much-loved Sisters with roses and a traditional matachín danced by local children while their parents signed up for the program. Middle School Madness Calms the Chaos
School districts across the country are facing budget cuts that can bring chaos into the lives of schoolchildren and their teachers. Flagstaff is no exception. To make the most of dwindling funds, the Flagstaff Unified School District moved hundreds of middle schoolers from their old school into a wing of Sinagua High School. Moved by the dislocation and anxiety many of the young students were experiencing, Holly White and other high school students started “Middle School Madness,” an after-school program of activities and mentoring to help the younger students adjust. To attract students and create a group identity, Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff provided $135 for supplies so that 30 students could tie-dye tee shirts. When over 60 kids turned up, student Alex Wallace dashed out and spent $110 of his own money for more supplies. Elated not only with the success of the program but also the dedication of the high school students, Bread for the Journey reimbursed Alex as well. It’s a Winter Wonderband
After 17 seasons of offering free summer concerts for their community, the Flagstaff Community Band decided to form a smaller ensemble, the Flagstaff Community Winter Wonderband, to share their good cheer and talent throughout the year. The Wonderband plays at fundraisers, city ceremonies, parades, and community events such as the annual tour of sustainable homes and holiday luminarias. The Wonderband has really taken off, prompting band member Scott Boynton to write to Bread for the Journey, asking for help: “The instant success of the Winter Wonderband has led to expenditures not in the current budget including holiday music, festive scarves and hats to enhance our regular uniforms, compensation for our conductor/music director, and rental of rehearsal space.” Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff provided $1,000 to demonstrate appreciation for these delightful musicians and to get the Wonderband off to a good start. Saving the River While Saving the Town
When Flagstaff pioneers built their homes and businesses, they built where they found flat land, which happened to be in the floodplain of an ephemeral stream they named the Rio de Flag. After serious flooding in 1888, citizens dug a channel diverting the Rio’s course into a poorer part of town south of the railroad tracks. But over 120 years later, flooding still threatens the business district, the university, and homes on either side of the tracks, prompting the US Army Corps of Engineers to draw up a plan to funnel the unruly Rio de Flag through buried concrete pipes. Unfortunately this approach would destroy miles of the riparian habitat that is already much too rare in Arizona. In response, Kathie Satterfield, Collis Lovely, Jack Welch, Jim Logan, and a group of concerned scientists formed Friends of the Rio de Flag. These dedicated activists are working to persuade the city and the Army Corps of Engineers to redesign the project using conservation principles proven to successfully control flooding, and that would actually cost the city less money. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff provided $251.42 for stickers to spread the word to recruit more advocates for an environmentally responsible approach to flood control in Flagstaff. More Flagstaff stories and contact information.
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Helping Patients Help Themselves A Important Stop on the Underground Railroad Founded in 1836 by black settlers, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church has played an important role in the city's history and black community. Originally known as "Indianapolis Station," the Church was active in the antislavery movement, providing shelter to fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad. In 1862, the church was destroyed by arson, believed to be caused by pro-slavery opponents. Undaunted by this tragedy, the congregation raised money to rebuild the church in 1867, the same church that stands today. After the civil war, Bethel opened schools for African Americans throughout the city. As it celebrates 172 years of existence, the church will be honored on June 20th with a state historical marker, commemorating Bethel’s pioneering role in shaping Indianapolis’ history and promoting Indiana’s African-American community. In conjunction with the dedication ceremony, the Church will host a tour of the historic church building and a reception. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis is proud to participate in this historic celebration with a grant of $50 to the church’s culinary program for the reception. A Safe Place Where Kids Can Be Kids More Indianapolis stories and contact information.
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Filling Playgrounds, Not Prisons
The Kaua’i Police Activities League (K-PAL) has a vision to “Fill Playgrounds, Not Prisons.” K-PAL offers a Jiu Jitsu Self Defense Program for young people between the ages of 5 and 19, with special focus on low-income and vulnerable children. The innovative program offers safe and supervised activities, while providing a common gathering place for children to build friendships. The kids in the program learn valuable lessons in teamwork, self-esteem, discipline, sportsmanship and the merits of hard work. K-PAL’s program builds on a time-proven formula - providing recreational activities and crime and drug prevention education in combination with mentoring from police officers and other responsible adults. K-PAL’s sincere hope is that the youth they reach will be empowered to embrace a healthy, drug-free and crime-free lifestyle and to reach their full potential as valued members of our island ‘ohana (family). K-PAL’s Jiu Jitsu program serves nearly 2,000 young people island wide – and it’s growing. Due to this tremendous success, K-PAL needed more safety training mats. Bread for the Journey of Kaua’i presented a challenge grant of $1,500, to encourage other Kaua`i residents to support the program. K-PAL raised another $1,500 for a total of $3,000 to help K-PAL build self-esteem and healthy resilience in the children of Kaua’i. Restoring and Honoring a Legacy of Service
The Hanalei Police Station has been an important part of the community on the North Shore of Kaua’i since 1981, but over the years the station has fallen into disrepair. In 2008, the community came together with the county government and private industry to renovate the station. The “new” facility has restored community pride in the station, enhanced police operations, and enabled Kaua’i police officers to better serve the community. Throughout the years, the officers of the Hanalei Police Station have created a rich history of service to the North Shore Community. Their service will be commemorated with a gallery of framed photographs throughout the station. Bread for the Journey of Kaua’i was proud to donate $478 to purchase the frames, as well as a bulletin board to help organize the officers’ daily assignments. More Kaua’i stories and contact information.
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Los AngelesLA’s Maiden Voyage – A Lifeboat for Classrooms in Need
To kick-off the opening of BFJ's newest chapter – Los Angeles County – the board decided to focus on helping high-poverty schools in the area. Through Jack and Joanne Tatham of the Orange County chapter, they learned about Donors Choose, an online charity that helps teachers and students get the materials they need for better learning outcomes. The Donors Choose website connects donors with project proposals for classrooms in need. If, after a given amount of time, the funding for a project isn’t completed, the proposal from the teacher expires. They didn’t want to see that happen. So they decided to complete the funding on several important projects that had already received partial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Creative Artists Agency, and J.P. Morgan San Francisco, so that these public schools would have the leg-up they needed to succeed. They were overjoyed to complete the funding for the following projects: A class of 9th and 10th graders from a high school in a high-poverty, high-crime area got the 8 graphing calculators they needed for their honors Algebra class. A brand-new teacher got the funding she needed for basic supplies like partitions and lapboards for her class. A class of budding musicians got 14 practice drum pads they needed so they can play music freely without the noise level disturbing the rest of the school. In addition, they completed funding for a reading table, digital camera, microscope and slides, 16 copies of children’s encyclopedias, 75 books for music, dance, acting and the arts, an Elmo document camera, supplies to help teach about the atom, hot-dot pens for test taking, and a study group table. They received kind words like these from grateful teachers: “Your generosity towards a stranger will not go unnoticed” and “I cannot fully put into words the overwhelming emotions of appreciation and joy.” The board members of Bread for the Journey of Los Angeles said, “It was the happiest $780 we have ever given.” For more information about Donors Choose, visit www.donorschoose.org Los Angeles chapter contact information.
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Marin CountyCamp Choice Empowers Young Leaders “World peace, one mind at a time” – With this vision, PSI World created Camp Choice, a five-day experiential learning camp for underprivileged children from the San Francisco Bay Area. Camp Choice empowers vulnerable youth to create positive change in themselves and their communities by realizing the power of choice, responsibility, and their effectiveness as positive leaders. During the camp, young people from different – and sometimes rival – neighborhoods learn to work together to accomplish team goals. In the process, they begin to form bonds that last even after they leave camp – bonds that can lead to lasting, positive friendships and support back home where it really counts. The personal growth and leadership development activities are specifically designed for goal setting in each participant’s life. Through ropes courses and other activities, youth get a chance to sharpen their focus, develop greater trust, and strengthen their commitment to go beyond what they believe they can accomplish and, in turn, create a lasting memory of success in their lives. Activities that pose physical and mental challenges are accompanied by creative outlets such as art projects, that help them portray the goals they have set for themselves, culminating in a camp talent show, where the participants perform skits, songs and dances they have created with their new friends and fellow campers. Six weeks after Camp Choice, PSI World hosts a “backpack party” where youth receive a backpack filled with the basic supplies they need for a successful school year. The backpack party is an important opportunity to rekindle new friendships and reinforce the growth they experienced at camp. As Bianca, a Camp Choice graduate commented, “At the back pack party I get to see all my friends that I met at Camp Choice and it helps me remember what I learned.” Bread for the Journey of Marin County was pleased to give $300 in supplies for backpacks that will help these newly empowered young leaders succeed in school. More Marin County stories and contact information.
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OaklandWisdom Spring: Quenching the Thirst of Young MindsSobonfu Somé believes “There is a deep longing among people in the West to connect with something bigger -- with community and spirit. People know there is something missing in their lives, and believe that the rituals and ancient ways of the village offer some answers." To heal this gap, the author and teacher shares the ancient wisdom and traditions of her tribe, the Dagara people of the West African country of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso ranks as one of the world's poorest countries, yet is one of the richest in spiritual life and custom. Quality Medical Relief International Quality Medical Relief International (QMRI)is Bread for the Journey of Oakland’s first international grant. The all-volunteer organization of medical and lay people is driven to make a difference in developing countries, where people die regularly from very treatable diseases because basic medical care and supplies are unavailable. QMRI collects medical supplies that are donated from clinics, hospitals, and aid organizations in the United States. From the modest garage of Tina Flores’ home in Oakland, the supplies are shipped to free medical clinics in countries around the world, from Peru to the Philippines, from Africa to Central America. Tina’s passion and dedication for her work is contagious. An amazing grassroots effort to watch, Tina raises funds for each container shipment through garage sales and selling creative items like coffee beans in decorative bags and donated jewelry at neighborhood craft sales! Tina is extremely diligent in ensuring that the donated supplies are of good quality – a pharmacist and other medical volunteers donate time to help sort and prepare the supplies – and that they are sent to a doctor within the destination country, using good organizational contacts and verifying certifications. A project that makes a big impact each and every shipment, Bread for the Journey of Oakland was proud to grant $1,000 to Quality Medical Relief International for its next shipment to El Salvador. For more information, visit http://qualitymedicalrelief.com/. EVergreen Conecta: Connecting Spanish Speakers with the Green Movement EVergreen Conecta (EVC), the brainchild of Elena Velez, is a grassroots project looking to connect the Hispanic/Latino community with environmental awareness and the green movement, in Spanish. EVC advocates for green organizations that want to reach Spanish speakers by being the voice and face to deliver their message. EVergreen Conecta will also offer workshops and outreach to promote healthy choices for sustainable living in the Hispanic/Latino community, highlighting the benefits to family and community. To get this worthy project started, Elena plans to create a brochure with an introduction, mission and programs/services offered by EVC; a resource guide of eco services, in Spanish; and a web site, in Spanish, with daily environmental tips and news. Elena's ideas for the future include hosting bilingual green educational tours, as well as community educational workshops in Spanish to churches, schools, community centers, and neighborhood groups, as well as music and family events for low income residents. Bread for the Journey of Oakland was honored to provide $375 as a seed grant for a first run of brochures to get EVergreen Conecta off the ground! hippysauce
Vibrant arts make for vibrant, engaged communities. hippysauce, located in West Oakland, is an integral part of a rich and diverse collective of artists, activists and revolutionaries. hippysauce is committed to working with the community to bring artists and activists together to express their art and “to proclaim our strength and power as a community that dreams, imagines and creates.” Hippysauce has created an arts space for local artists to enrich the community with the performing arts, a gallery for visual arts, movement and yoga classes, workshops and seminars. Recent activities included providing a café space for specialty organic menus and offering a series of dynamic movement classes. The most recent upcoming activities are monthly gatherings of live music, theatrical performance, and dance. Bread for the Journey of Oakland was pleased to grant hippysauce $750 to further their efforts in fostering arts awareness to the community and in offering a space to bring local artists together. We wish hippysauce much future success! More Oakland stories and contact information.
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Orange CountyRaising the Next Generation of Mariachis, Family Style
The Ceja family has just started a mariachi music school in San Juan Capistrano, CA. and they already have 90 students. They meet in the evenings twice a week with their students and teach the instruments themselves. Father Alex does all the administrative work, and mother Rosa teaches elementary school during the day and teaches beginning and intermediate guitar to students at night. Son David, the director of the program, teaches advance guitar, guitarron and trumpet and daughter Carmen teaches beginning, intermediate and advanced violin. The Cejas ask for a $35 a month donation per student and $15 a month donation per additional family member. As most of the students are from low-income families, some are unable to donate at times. Some of the students are now ready to play at local events and start raising money for the program. Their next pressing need is for Mariachi suits. Bread for the Journey of Orange County gave the Cejas a grant of $2000 – $1500 for mariachi suits and $500 for the next important thing they need. A Front-Row Seat at Nature’s Stage
Nathaniel Lansley is an Eagle Scout with a vision to help restore one of his community’s treasures. He plans to rebuild the seats at the outdoor amphitheater at the Oak Canyon Nature Center in the city of Anaheim. The Oak Canyon Nature Center is a 58-acre natural park, offering a beautiful oasis and “outdoor classroom” to the residents of Anaheim. The park offers one of the few remaining areas of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in the region. The amphitheater provides a natural setting for educational programs and events, and provides income for the park. Nathaniel has city approval, donated lumber, friends to help, but needs a total of $3000 to complete the project. He wants to involve the community in raising funds for the project, so he needed funds to purchase supplies for a car wash fundraiser. In addition, he wants to purchase pizza for his project workers who will be working with him this summer. Bread for the Journey of Orange County gave Nathaniel $500 to start with a promise to contribute up to $750 more as a match for any amount he raises over $1000. Nourishing Elders, Body and Soul Many homebound seniors in Orange, California depend on Meals on Wheels not only for physical sustenance, but also for the companionship and conversation with program volunteers, which may be their only chance to be with others. With rising gas prices, many volunteers have been unable to continue delivering meals, and have asked for reimbursement, which is not in the budget. Bread for the Journey of Orange County was pleased to give $1000 to Orange Elderly Services, Inc. to pay for the volunteer's fuel expenses and help keep our senior neighbors nourished, in body and soul. More Orange County stories and contact information.
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Women’s Resource Fair Beautiful Family of Four – Homeless No More Impassioned and empowered through our new relationship with this family, Bread for the Journey of San Diego wanted to help. As we got to know them, we learned just how expensive it can be to be homeless, especially for a family of four. The nights that you pay for temporary lodging are so much more expensive than rent. And when you have to buy every meal, and have no access to a kitchen, there is no way to plan ahead and shop for groceries to save money. Within a few short days, Bread for the Journey of San Diego raised $2,079 as a gift to this family. We had no assumptions about how much this money would or would not help this family, and no assumptions about how they would manage or use the money. We just gave it stating simply that it was a gift in hopes that it would make “today” a little easier. To our great delight they had already been working some of their own resources. They had been talking with an apartment owner who would help them if they could come up with enough money to demonstrate their efforts. The father had been working security and the mother had been interviewing for jobs, and they had been trying to get into a home for a while. The cash that our chapter raised for them, plus what they had already accomplished on their own, enabled this family to move into an apartment that very week. With free furnishings they collected from Craig’s list and other sites, they are settling into home and continuing to flourish. Having a home has made the entire family feel secure and proud again. As for BFJ of San Diego, we are moved to have had an experience that we simply did not expect. We learned a lot through giving to this family. San Diego Indie Music Fest
The San Diego Indie Music Fest, held on March 28, 2009, celebrates the spirit and power of independent music to make a difference in the world. The Festival is the brainchild of Alicia Champion and Danielle Lo Presti. Danielle is a pioneer who works tirelessly to empower artists and enrich the independent music scene. Alicia Champion is a young artist whose independent recording label, Champ Records, has showcased the work of many up and coming independent artists. Together, Danielle's wisdom of experience and Alicia's fiery passion to climb any musical mountain makes them unstoppable. Working side by side throughout Southern California, and playing the stages of festivals, clubs, activist showcases and more, this duo is lighting a fire of awareness and hope throughout the all-too-often embittered music world. Bread for the Journey of San Diego was happy to make a donation of $100 to the festival to support the independent spirit of musicians to speak, sing, and play their truth. More San Diego stories and contact information.
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Our First Grant: La Mesa Verde Gardens Santa Cruz contact information.
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Horses Bring Healing to Heroes The Army estimates that at least 17% of the veterans returning from Iraq suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Gus Jolley, an Army veteran who is certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, wanted to combine his understanding of what horses can give to people with his respect for veterans and what they have given to our country. He and two of his friends, who are also veterans, are offering equine therapy for veterans at no cost. As Gus says, “They have paid dearly. They don’t need to pay any more.” Veterans who might benefit from this unique, healing program are referred to Horses for Heroes by the psychiatrist at the local VA hospital. Gus and his friends offer lessons that begin with grooming, tacking and groundwork, and then, as trust and comfort are established, riding. Gus finds that through this process, a subtle communication is formed, based on sensitivity and patience, bonding the horse and rider together. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe made a gift of $500 to enable Gus to apply for non-profit status and $1,000 for liability insurance. Modern Story Tellers Breathe Youthful Life into Ancient Traditions
Tim McLaughlin teaches creative writing at the Santa Fe Indian School in New Mexico. Ten junior and senior students are members of the Poetry Club. These students present ancient Native traditions, philosophies and perspectives in a modern format – spoken poetry with actions. In many cases, the poems that they write are deeply spiritual blessings and prayers. Tim challenges his students daily to live in the ways that their poems are dictating – honoring the earth and all living things. This year, the club had made plans to attend and perform at the Brave New Voices Poetry Festival in Chicago. At the last minute, a sponsor announced that their grant could only be spent in New Mexico, and it looked like they wouldn't be able to go. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was thrilled to step up with a grant of $2,000 so that these young poets could attend the festival. They were the only Native American group, and they represented their community and traditions well, receiving awards and a standing ovation. Wonderings: Seeing Through The Heart Of The Horse With A Little Help From the Worms
Miguel Santistevan believes in teaching about sustainable agriculture through the use of simple hand-operated tools. Michael, who is working on his Ph.D. in biology, has founded a new group called “Sembradores” (“Master Cultivators”). On land that has been cultivated by his family for generations, he works with high school and college students in agriculture, research, and education to deepen their connection to the earth through cultivation. More Santa Fe stories and contact information.
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Open Arms Reaches out to the Hispanic Community Based in the Puget Sound, Open Arms Perinatal Services embraces and celebrates women and the childbearing experience by providing an array of culturally and linguistically appropriate services to women and their families. These services include prenatal support and parenting education, continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor and delivery, and assistance in the first six weeks after delivery. Youth Give Voice through Poetry Merna Ann Hecht — poet-in-residence at Foster High School in south Seattle — leads the Voices Project, in which immigrant students who have experienced war and conflict are encouraged to give honest expression to their voices through the language of poetry and narrative. Students consistently describe how poetry helped them recognize themselves in each other’s stories and how it led them to care more about each other’s journeys. The Voices Project also provides opportunities for these young people to showcase their poetry through community readings, public radio broadcasts, and the publication of an anthology in hard copy, with the hope that these stories will similarly be met with compassion and understanding from the larger community. Bread for the Journey of Seattle is proud to continue its support of the Voices Project by granting $1000 to fund the publication of the 2010 poetry anthology. Samaritan Center of Puget Sound Liza Ziliak, a mental health counselor with Samaritan Center of Puget Sound, works with homeless youth in Seattle's University District. Many of her clients suffer from addictions and other mental health issues, but are unlikely to attend scheduled appointments in traditional offices. So instead, Liza goes to drop-in centers and coffee shops, connecting individually with some of Seattle's most at-risk children and young adults. Once they trust her, she is able to guide them in finding ways to help themselves with addiction recovery, self-care, access to education, housing, relationships, medical care, etc. Liza needed money to pay for small but necessary incidentals that would arise, so Bread for the Journey of Seattle partnered with Samaritan Center of Puget Sound and other nonprofits who support Liza, by providing her with $750 for a discretionary fund. Liza is changing the lives of many kids living on the street, making our community a more compassionate and caring place for us all. Supporting the Fundamentals of LifeSPAN In order to operate successfully, any organization needs essentials like an adequate power supply and a modern copy machine. LifeSPAN relies on these basics in order to support families in planning quality futures for their relatives with developmental disabilities. Bread for the Journey is honored to continue its support of LifeSPAN’s valuable work by granting $1000 for an updated power supply and copy machine. Second Annual Family Activity Last year, Bread for the Journey of Seattle started a new tradition – a family activity day to cultivate generosity in our own lives and in our families. This year, we gathered our children and other family members to honor our elders with beauty. The Shoreline Lake Forest Park Community Senior Center is a vital part of the greater Seattle community, offering classes and seminars, social work services, a health clinic, community meeting place and more to hundreds of seniors each month. When we approached the center and asked them about their needs, they eagerly asked for help in beautifying their gardens. The gardens at the senior center had become terribly overgrown with weeds – an eyesore at the building’s entrance. We all agreed that aesthetics matter, and a well-maintained garden can communicate to seniors that they are valued members of our community. Board members and our families met at the senior center for our second annual family activity day to weed, prune, and clean up the front grounds. The children decorated terra cotta pots with pictures and words of encouragement and filled them with flowering plants. The pots then decorated the tables in the cafeteria and were sent home with seniors at the end of the week. Children also participated in planting a colorful flower pot to welcome visitors at the front doors. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was pleased to give our time and energy to beautify the gardens for the seniors in our community and grant the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Community Senior Center $750 to fund the garden’s up-keep. And as a bonus for us, it gave us a fun way to nurture the spirit of generosity in our families. Dunn Gardens – A stroll through Northwest History Visiting the Dunn Gardens in north Seattle is like taking a step back in time. In 1915, Arthur Dunn commissioned the renowned Olmstead Brothers landscape design firm, famous for New York’s Central Park, to design the gardens of his country home in North Seattle. The Olmstead firm was not new to Seattle – a few years earlier, in 1909, the firm had designed the fair grounds, where the University of Washington campus presently sits. This June, Seattle celebrated the centennial year of the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, Seattle’s first “world fair,” which put Seattle “on the map” and was held at the new fair grounds., By way of participating, Dunn Gardens paid homage to the Olmstead Brothers’ work with a mini demonstration garden, which evokes the 1909 fair grounds layout. The gardens opened their doors to the public with four new plantings in urns designed by the curators for this special occasion. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was delighted to support Dunn Gardens and its connection to the Northwest’s rich history by granting $350 to underwrite part of the labor of installing the garden urns.Fry Bread for Justice After attending the grand opening ceremony for the new Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in Seattle, Bread for the Journey of Seattle was compelled to find a way to help. The stories shared by tribal elders and the native songs and dance were both haunting and inspirational. After visiting with James, the Director of the Cultural Center, we learned of the overwhelming need to raise $130,000 for an expert witness to represent the tribe’s court challenge for Federal tribal recognition, which would ensure that the people of Chief Seattle have their full rights as a tribe. Bread for the Journey of Seattle expressed our commitment of a $1,000 grant to help the tribe. However, in the spirit of community, rather than an outright donation to the legal fund, we hoped to help encourage creative community participation. The idea James came back with was both brilliant and community-minded. James proposed a series of fundraisers featuring traditional fry bread as the main component. The tribe would use the $1000 grant to fund Fry Bread for Justice Day. His belief was that the fry bread events would generate funds for the legal challenge and increase community awareness of the tribe’s struggle for Federal Recognition. In James’ words, “Bread for the Journey would be exactly what we would be doing...Using a traditional food to fund our needs.” The tribe has since raised over $5,500 at two fry bread fundraisers with one remaining. James reports that the Fry Bread for Justice events have provided a great opportunity for the community to come together and help. In addition, the Duwamish Tribe has raised another $30,000 that James attributes to community awareness centered around the Fry Bread for Justice campaign. Ministry of Presence Grows Over the past year, Mary’s Place of Seattle has become a friend to Seattle’s chapter of Bread for the Journey. Mary’s Place provides refuge and sanctuary for homeless and formerly homeless women where support for spirits, minds and bodies is found. In the fall of 2008, Mary’s Place was given the opportunity to make a long-time vision a reality: to create a support network for homeless women who have been hospitalized or incarcerated. Bread for the Journey proudly supported the center’s “Ministry of Presence” with $1,000 in seed money. This compassionate program has received support but also confronted challenges. Consequently, they have had to re-envision how to implement a program that works within hospitals’ legal requirements to protect patient confidentiality. The problem was how to get the word out to women in need. Mary’s Place has gotten creative with flyers and cards to spread the word to hospital chaplains, social workers and to homeless women themselves that support is available. The word has gotten out. Trained volunteers have begun visiting women in the hospital. Mary’s Place needed additional funding to strengthen the Ministry of Presence in the hospital and now to extend it to the jails. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was pleased to contribute an additional $1000 to strengthen this program’s path to success. More Seattle stories and contact information.
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The Global Student Embassy
Lucas and Jasper Oshun are passionate global explorers who believe in the power of cultural exchange to foster understanding and peace. The brothers were troubled that students in other parts of the world often lack finances to travel internationally, and American youth often lack the expanded worldview gained from exploring unfamiliar and possibly uncomfortable terrain. To this end, the Oshun brothers created The Global Student Embassy (GSE) with the hope of hosting international students in their hometown of Sebastopol, and sending local high school students to travel and participate in community service projects abroad. For their early 2009 inauguration, GSE sponsored five South American high school students, four from Argentina and one from Peru. The two week exchange to Sebastopol enabled the South Americans to present aspects of their culture to elementary and high school students in Sonoma County, and to observe and participate in an array of diverse local events, such as lectures, dances, and joining a group of teens from Analy High school to construct a community garden directly in front of a trailer park in Sebastopol. In the summer of 2009, eight high school students from Sebastopol are planning to travel to communities in Argentina and Peru to participate in similar efforts. In order to document GSE’s community service projects and promote their vision to potential funders and students, Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol provided a grant of $1000 for a digital video camera and additionally offered the video production expertise of a local friend of BFJ. Jasper and Lucas plan to produce a promotional DVD, and as their project gains momentum, they plan to use their new video equipment to communicate their successes and adventures on the internet via tools like YouTube. See http://www.seb.org/gsefirstpics.html. More Sebastopol stories and contact information.
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Southwest MichiganTouching Elders with the Gift of Music
Bob Rowe is a talented and big-hearted musician. His belief in the dignity of human life inspired him to move beyond the boundaries of pure entertainment, and to use his gifts to bring joy and love to the elderly and forgotten. In 1988, Bob founded Renaissance Enterprises to bring music, performing arts, and joy to for the elderly in nursing homes, operating with the philosophy that music provides much-needed food for the soul and assists in healing and wellbeing. The programs give nursing home residents something to look forward to and Renaissance Enterprises chooses musicians that actively engage with their audiences, opening them up and brightening their lives. During her life, Mother Teresa took note of Bob’s work, commenting, “Your work of love in nursing homes, hospitals and for the aged, the neglected and the forgotten is truly the work of peace.” Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan agrees, and happily granted Renaissance Enterprises $2,000 to bring the gift of music to elders in Battle Creek, Michigan nursing homes. To learn more about Bob, visit: http://www.visioncouncil.org/bobrowe/. Media Arts Academy for Social Change Last summer, 28 at-risk Kalamazoo youth spent the summer learning multi-media skills and how to use them as tools for promoting social change. With the visionary leadership of Deborah Warfield and Juan Muniz from International Media Exchange, Inc., the Media Arts Academy for Social Change teaches young people unique skills in the media arts, while strengthening academic, personal and social skills. The hope is to prepare participating youth for alternative jobs in the media industry, and increase their chances of securing economic sustainability for generations to come. The academy engages and empowers youth to become media literate “Producers of Change,” using documentary projects. During the 2009 summer academy, the kids explored concepts of racism, prejudice and discrimination in a multicultural community. They used their knowledge and their new media skills to create four DVDs on the topics of Teen Pregnancy, Teen Violence, School Retention, and the Migrant Story. The youth did all the work on the video productions and the trailers for the videos. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to grant Deborah and Juan $2,000 to create copies of the videos, hold film screenings, and create promotional materials for the Media Arts Academy. Open Roads Bike Repair Teaches More Than Mechanics
Kevin Sommer and Ethan Alexander had a vision to create a safe, loving, creative, and empowering community for kids in Kalamazoo's Eastside neighborhood. Both bicycle enthusiasts, they created Open Roads, a self-sustaining bike repair and social skills program. Open Roads is based at Peace House, an intentional community of 2 young families and is open for business every Friday afternoon. Open Roads is designed to teach not only bicycle repair skills, but also respect – for people and tools – discipline, and safety. The kids love the work, as well as the relationships they are forming. After only 3 weeks, a couple of kids were already showing leadership abilities and a desire to help teach others. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very impressed with the Open Roads program and with Peace House and was excited to provide $1750 to purchase bike tools, a work stand, bike parts such as tubes and chains, bike locks, and prizes, and groceries for a summer-end bike trip. Kitchen Connections: Vulnerable Children Cook Up Success! Penny Allen has a huge heart to help vulnerable children be healthy and succeed in school. So far, she has started Kids' Connections, an afterschool program offering tutoring and fun activities, as well as Generous Hands, which provides backpacks for children in need. Recently, Penny took her passion a step further and started Kitchen Connections, which offers nutrition and cooking classes for vulnerable children, some of whom are the primary cooks for their younger siblings. With the help of a retired dietician, Kitchen Connections developed a cookbook with simple recipes using small numbers of easy-to-obtain ingredients. In the process, she visited the food pantry to get a better feel for the kinds of foods these families were likely to receive in a food basket. During the 6-week cooking classes, each student is paired with an adult, often retired, grandparent-types. Penny feels that the 1 to 1 attention is key to the children's success. During the class, each child makes a full recipe, which they all eat together, and then the kids take the leftovers home to share with their families. Kids' Connections also runs a Kids’ Garden program, where the kids learn about growing their own food and tending a garden. This summer, the children made and canned salsa, which they sold at a roadside stand after they had set aside some for their families. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very pleased to grant Penny $1,029 to purchase cooking stations for the Kitchen Connections classes, canning supplies for the summer garden salsa project, and ingredients and snacks for two six-week class sessions. Hope’s Door Patti Whitcomb started Hope’s Door to provide a transitional living situation for women who are being released from jail after being incarcerated for drug-related charges. Hope’s Door serves women who want to make a change in their lives and who are willing to make the commitment to sobriety and self-improvement. The program stresses the goals of being drug-free, getting an education, finding employment, and rebuilding family. Hope’s Door is in the process of purchasing a house. The manager of the new home is herself a former addict, now drug-free and a graduate of Mel Trotter Ministries, a multi-phase therapeutic substance abuse recovery program. The new home will host four to six residents at a time, providing transitional housing and support in maintaining sobriety and getting on their feet. Bread for the Journey of SW Michigan was pleased to grant Hope’s Door $600 to cover six months of homeowner’s insurance, once the home is purchased. Chair Massage for Nurses
Kristin Wasche is a registered nurse who knows how stressful nursing can be. Kris, who is no longer a practicing nurse, recently became a Certified Massage Therapist. As a way of giving back, and to help nurses maintain wellness in a stressful job, she decided she’d like to offer them free 10-15 minute chair massages. Bread for the Journey of SW Michigan was impressed with Kris’ passion and dedication and we were very pleased to award her $400 for the purchase of a massage chair and screen. Kris was overjoyed to receive the grant and started offering chair massages to the nurses at Allegan General Hospital in June. Kalamazoo Collective Housing Affordable housing is a hot topic in cities and towns across the country, and Kalamazoo is no exception. Kalamazoo Collective Housing (KCH) is focused on creating and growing sustainable, affordable, cooperative housing in the city of Kalamazoo. KCH currently leases 2 houses and they want to expand to include not only apartment houses, but potentially small neighborhoods. In order to seek affordable housing grants from government and foundation sources, as well as large donations, KCH needs to achieve nonprofit status. KCH approached Bread for the Journey of SW Michigan to help them with the costs of applying for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. BFJ of SW Michigan is impressed with KCH and we appreciate their focus on sustainability and low income housing. We were happy to grant them $800 toward the cost of the 501(c)(3) application fee and a legal review of the paperwork. Opening Doors for Service through Yoga
For Kirsten Kloster, a student in the Holistic Health Program at Western Michigan University and a part-time yoga instructor at Sangha Yoga in Kalamazoo, yoga teacher training was an incredible experience, not only to deepen her understanding of yoga, but also for deepening self-awareness and her connection to community. To open this door for people with fewer financial resources, she came up with the idea of a Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship fund. The scholarship fund will enable students to complete a 200-hour training resulting in certification to teach yoga anywhere in the US. Scholarships will be based on need and applicants must write essays demonstrating both their financial need and their dedication to yoga, as well as explaining what they plan to do to give back to their community (such as offering classes to at-risk youth or elders in nursing homes). Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was happy to provide $1000 to help fund the scholarship program and to help purchase books to start a resource library. School Garden Grows Well-Rounded Children
Lincoln International Studies School is a public magnet school in Kalamazoo which uses an international studies curriculum and diverse community partnerships to ensure that all children become responsible, self-motivated achievers . The elementary school is beginning a garden project to facilitate cross-curricular, hands-on learning in an outdoor garden-based classroom. It will be utilized by teachers, students, parents and community members with the goal of enhancing the social, emotional, physical and academic growth of Lincoln students. The garden will be grown in raised beds on the school grounds and will start as a Lunch Recess Garden Club. Working with self-selected teachers and Amolia Moore of Kalamazoo Communities in Schools, students will learn about planting, growing and harvesting vegetables and herbs. The project will also emphasize the international theme that plants migrate like people do. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was excited to provide $1200 for building materials, equipment rental, gardening tools and supplies, seeds, soil, and promotional materials for this inspiring project. Helping Parents – and Children – Get a Great Start
Every year, Pam Swaim plans a Parent Expo for the Great Parents Great Start program at Lewis Cass Intermediate School District. The District provides special education and instructional support to make sure that all of southwest Michigan’s children can succeed. The Parent Expo brings families together to learn about what resources are available to them, to meet with local service agencies and to participate in school-readiness activities with their children. Since March was Parent Awareness Month in Michigan, this year the event focused on the theme of Safety. Activities included Stop-Drop-and-Roll fire safety training, an opportunity to create a child ID Amber Alert Kit, and a presentation on bullying. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to grant Pam $1300 to purchase First Aid kits to distribute to the families that attended the expo. More Southwest Michigan stories and contact information.
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More Stories of Community Support (2008) Copyright
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