Create Now- Helping Vulnerable Youth From 2 to 25 by making Christmas Ornaments.
In December I volunteered to shoot photography at a charity to help the organization Create Now, a 501(c)(3) non-profit create in 1996 to help high risk vulnerable youth through creative endeavors. The kids are those fighting to overcome a past of neglect, abuse, or the bad choices of their parents or themselves. They have access to a network of over 1,200 facilities that provide services, shelter or detain trouble children in the community. The event was a networking party at Exclusive Casting Studios in Hollywood called “HAVE A BALL!” between members of the entertainment industry and actors with the overall purpose to make Christmas Ornaments for a great charity.
Recently I received an e-mail stating that the British Council selected Create Now as one of five arts organizations to “participate in their first multilateral Global Xchange program with six countries (Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, France, Northern Ireland and the U.S.). This is also the first time in their 75 year history that Americans are included in their exchange program.” Jill Gurr is currently spending “three weeks in Durban, South Africa, along with community activists from Homeboy Industries, LA’s Best. Reach LA, Street Poets, and 25 other unique arts education organizations from Africa and Europe.” Congrats to Jill and Create Now. Jill Gurr has a blog up about her adventures if you are interested.