grace

… filling in the negative space with positively everything

Via Colori - Street Art Benefiting CHS

This past fall several members of Houston’s creative community were selected to serve as Culture Scouts for the Houston Arts Alliance’s “Art the Heart of Houston” viral video campaign. Our three-month misson: to explore new venues, to seek out new art and new installations…and to capture them with Flip videocams for upload to the website.

The Flips were fun; the uploading was not. But the goal was, and is, important: in a city as sprawling as Houston, we have to take it upon ourselves to seek out, recognize, and share great work when we encounter it, so that others can discover and enjoy it, too.

I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing so many great openings, exhibits, and performances within the past few months: one of my favorites by far was Via Colori - a street art event to raise funds for the Center for Hearing and Speech (CHS). I couldn’t upload all of the great pieces to the campaign site; but here they are via YouTube to enjoy:

And if you want to help support the arts, please join us this Saturday (February 28) at ArtCamp Houston 9:30am-5pm at Caroline Collective - it’s free!

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Carlos Meltzer & Recipe for Success on 13

Channel 13 did *something* right this week: it featured the Recipe for Success Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to combat childhood obesity and encourage long-term health by helping children understand, appreciate, and eat more healthful food.

The piece shows Carlos Meltzer, Director of Media and Community Outreach, teaching children how to make healthy choices as they prepare dishes: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=6501722

From the Recipe4Success site - http://www.recipe4success.org:

Our Program is focused on integrating nutrition vertically throughout curriculum and after school programs, and operates in selected H.I.S.D. elementary schools.

We train parent-volunteers; connect them to a broad spectrum of community resources—including our Chefs in Schools series; and mentor a city-wide collaboration to affect change. We created a model that will soon be replicated in other schools and communities in Houston and across the country.

Recipe for Success founder Gracie Cavnar was nominated as a National Woman of Worth: please vote for her at http://www.womenofworth.com/ and help Recipe for Success win $25,000 so it can continue its great work! Voting runs from November 10 to November 24, 2008.

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Libra: July 24, 2008

Avoid basing your responses on how you believe someone will react. Instead of weighing your words, just say them, but do it in a way that also conveys your kindness and flexibility. Others will be so appreciative to know how you truly feel that they won’t care if you disagree with them.

I did it without even knowing it: this morning, I sent out correspondence to several people, and received such positive feedback that I think I have enough fuel in me for another fight. This time, I’m fighting for the health of an organization: the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Association (APAHA), for which I’m currently acting as Executive Director … in role and responsibility, if not in title.

Titles are for other people, anyway - a title is a shortcut to give people a basic idea of how you fit into the scheme of things. All I want is the opportunity to develop great programs that “promote awareness and increase understanding of Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage, culture, and diversity through education and celebration”  … the core purpose of APAHA, and one of the issues I’m most passionate about. I hope it works out!

(Feel free to share your thoughts on this with me by adding a comment below - would love to get a gauge on public opinion of the organization and its impact/direction on the community!)

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