Izza Kizza Press Kit
A Press Kit project that our creative team put together for Southern Hip-Hop artist Izza Kizza.
Special thanks to Sonya Ziegler of Aim to Simplify for her concept oversight and Julia (Jules) Kelly for her phenomenal, creative graphic designs and endless energy with the revision process! Both of you are beyond belief!
Healing Therapy Through Art: MONARCH SCHOOL
Originally titled
BUTTERFLY ART
(First published in Fine Magazine, August, 2009)
by
Sonya Ziegler and John Butler
Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, the metamorphosis of the art program at Monarch School has gone from a mere crawl to spreading its wings and taking flight. This important art program for homeless and at-risk kids dates back to 1998, when Chicano Park muralist, painter and activist Mario Torero worked with a group of students from The Monarch School to create a series of murals. Drawing upon the challenges, hopes, dreams and dread of these children, the mural focuses on what it means to be homeless, from the child’s point of view. To this day, these murals greet everyone who enters the school and proudly shows that art is the heart of the school.
Dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs, Monarch School is located in downtown San Diego and is one of only two such school left in the United States. With more than 100 kids between the ages of 7 and 18 enrolled at any one time, the professionals there are making sure that these fantastic, sometimes forgotten kids, get the accredited education they need to break the cycle of their family’s pain. With the average age of a homeless person being just 9 years old, there are more than 2,200 homeless children in San Diego and more than 300,000 nationwide! Touring Monarch School, witnessing the creativity of the kids and the dedication of the staff restores hope and reminds all of us that we can help these young lives.
Through art, this diverse assortment of students express themselves in a way that is meaningful, beautiful and personal. “The arts provide such a real way for students to stay connected to their cultures and to share their cultures,” says Rachelle Jacobson, Monarch’s Expressive Arts Therapist since the evolution of the position in October 2007. Originally hired in 1998, she has witnessed the development of the art program since the mural project spurred the school into officially starting an art program; to today, when artistic expression is used as a therapeutic tool for these challenged kids. With a Masters Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy, Rachelle is pioneering this new program using an array of artistic outlets that allow the child to show, rather than tell what is going on inside of them. Helping these kids deal with the challenges that have been presented to them so early in their young lives. “When insecurity takes energy away from learning, artistic expression, such as theater, dance, painting and sandtray therapy, can restore a child’s strength by creating safe experiences to draw from.”
“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child,”
Pablo Picasso.
With no stigma attached, Rachelle says that students receiving Expressive Art Therapy are not mocked by other students, but are instead envied. “Once, a student came up to me and asked. What do I have to do to come and see you?” Rachelle replied, “You just need to be facing some challenges.” The little girl, who was just 9-years old, remarked adorably, “I’m psycho…”
“What a powerful medium the arts are in a school program. It engages the kids, nurtures them, gives them another, creative way to communicate and express themselves. In addition, homelessness is not the biggest issue. These are kids trying to figure out who they are. They want to know where they fit in. They are dealing with parent issues, kids picking on them and all of the normal issues you would expect to see at a regular school,” Rachelle goes on to add that, “The students of Monarch School are not the reason why their family is in a shelter, or on the street. They’re only kids!”
Help these kids bridge the gap that divides them from the life they know, and the one they dream of. Today, you read about these kids, what are you going to do tomorrow? Go to their website, www.monarchschools.org, and volunteer, donate art supplies, join with Fine Magazine in doing something now.
Credits
Sonya Ziegler is a Professional Organizer, Event Planner, and CEO of Aim to Simplify. John Butler is a professional Ghostwriter and Freelance Writer living in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp District. Inocente Izucar, whose art decorates these pages, was in 8th grade when she created these works of art.
JB’s office
A new client sent me some research material to read…
What? Your office doesn’t have a view?
Sent from my iPhone.
Eating Water by John Butler
Eating Water
By
John Butler
“I know so many people out there right now that are struggling to make ends meet, struggling to put food on the table, struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Struggling just to struggle…” JB
Never underestimate the value of a $3 cigar.
Even when everything else in the world seems to be rotting on the vine, holding onto a single, small treasure like a cigar can give you at least a moment to look forward to at the end of a long, long week of sending out resumes, trying to scratch a living off of the internet, eBay, or Craigslist. With benefits having ran out, they take on an even greater meaning that my friend could not quantify. To me, it felt like he was searching for a word that wrapped hope with fond memories and when lit, turned into a moment – a timeout – from all of his troubles.
When all you can afford is one drink, make sure you drink on an empty stomach.
My friend is a realist in that he sees things as they are and not with labels. The glass is neither half full nor half empty, it’s simply a glass of water that doesn’t look like it will slosh out and splash all over you if you walk with it. Meeting for Happy Hour one day, he sat there with his one, $2 beer and pondered something for a few minutes. He looked up and said, “You know, I can only afford this one beer. But, since I haven’t eaten, this is turning out to be one great beer!” Obviously already buzzed, he slowly sipped the pint and looked more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time. Stress manifests itself in many ways and with him it was a weight that bent his back. Hunched over, it seemed like a weight crushed his gaze inevitably downward. But, that one beer on an empty stomach seemed to give him just enough of a buzz that it made him visibly relax; his shoulders loosened, his posture shifted and his eyes lifted up and instead of looking at the ground he found himself watching people walk by. Being able to sit at a restaurant amongst people once every eight or nine days, enjoying something as simple as a beer, seemed to matter more to him than a cheap, enjoyable buzz. It meant, for a few sips anyway, being able to be part of society instead of being almost homeless…
White on White: Mayo packets stolen from the corner sandwich shop and mixed with rice and salt.
When you can only afford a scoop of rice per meal and not much else, anything edible that you can add to it to make it different from the last twenty meals makes a world of difference. Everyone says they crave stability, yet I don’t think anyone would apply that word to their diet. Eating basically the same thing, everyday, is what Jimmy Buffet sang about in Cheeseburger in Paradise, “Warm beer and bread they say could raise the dead…” But, when you are living on $3 a day, variety is usually something you shake out of a spice jar.
Back in our college days, where most of learned how to be Top Ramen gourmets, we quickly learned how to make the most of our beer budget by adding other ingredients to those golden noodles. Moi? I loved cracking an egg or two into the kettle after the noodles were done. They soaked up the spices and became little entrees amongst the noodles. But, when you are on the unemployment insurance diet, loosing weight isn’t a problem. After almost two years on it, you are guaranteed to fit into those “skinny jeans” of your younger years. My friend has dropped over 30 pounds, almost 6 inches of waistline, and every ounce of baby fat he ever had in his face. In fact, looking at photos taken of him three years ago, to looking at him today, you can see how his facial features have sunk. His jawline is more pronounced, his checks seem thin—you can see muscles under his skin if he is eating something crunchy—and his eyes seem bigger somehow…
One day, we were walking through the food court at the local mall and I caught him pilfering condiment packets out of the corner of my eye. Like a pickpocket eyeing a target, he casually drifted towards the table with the napkins and condiment packets of a hotdog stand, pulled a napkin from the dispenser and made a show of wiping something off his hand, all the while looking casually around to see if anyone was watching… Obviously, what he was contemplating bothered him (equally obvious, he sucks at poker). Pulling out a couple more napkins, he grabbed a few mayonnaise and spicy brown mustard packets, covered them with the napkin, shoved them in his pocket as he walked away.
Later, I asked him about it and this is what he told me about his cooking experiment, White on White. Since he is limited to only a microwave to cook with, rice is the bulk of his daily diet. Rice for breakfast and rice for dinner. He couldn’t afford to eat lunch. White on White is cooked rice, salt to taste, then stir in a few of those mayo packets and, voilà, you get something new to eat!
Friendships are rentals.
Friends and family seem to vanish either because we push them away or because we drift apart. But sometimes, we lock ourselves away into a self-imposed exile because of pride. We are embarrassed by our circumstances. We are no longer who we were, at least from our depressed point of view.
Showing up at Happy Hour is uncomfortable at best, often painful, or simply draining of what energy we had left as we simply just to show up. There are so many people out there that have no clue that the person standing next to them (1 in 10 here in California (circa 01/10)) might be unemployed… It’s at those times that you realize that the term “friend” has meaning. It becomes a word that is used to describe those people in your life you can actually talk to and escape your personal exile with for a few moments. They are the ones that will float you $20 until your next Unemployment check so that you can buy 10 days worth of groceries (5lbs rice-$5, fresh veggies-$7, chicken bouillon cubes-$4, special entree of the week (4 cans of chili-$4, pasta sauce, 2 for $4, et cetera)…
Other people in your life will, hopefully, never know or realize that you are (were?) unemployed. These are the people whose “friendship” was rented. They were friends as long as you bought a round from time to time. They were friends when you joined them for Happy Hour once in a while. They were friends that were there only socially.
You know they are rented friends if they never ask, “Hey buddy, what’s up? Haven’t seen you for awhile… Everything okay?”
But, these are the social networking friends that we must ply in our search for employment. These are the old colleagues we bump into from our long lost paycheck days, and lie to, telling them that “oh yeah, things are great now that I’m not with…”
It’s a lie we, the unemployed, tell ourselves, too. We have to. Pride is also rented.
Looking for work is harder than work.
Being unemployed is such a misnomer. Those of us who’ve been unemployed for double-digit months know all too well that we have jobs: Our work is looking for work; our job is getting out of bed every day and trying to remember what day it is (think Groundhog’s Day to the tenth power); our job is trying to force ourselves to get out of bed and tell ourselves that, “Today will be productive.” Sending resumes to every job opening that you want morphs into sending them to anything that you feel you might possibly be qualified for—even those jobs that you have to dumb-down your resume for by cutting out all references to graduate level education (i.e., a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology when you’re applying for a job at Subway), redacting all accomplishments (i.e., 10 years of experience as a Technical Field Trainer), and turning past employment into plain vanilla bullet points (i.e., 14 years of management experience morphs into “People Skills”).
My friend has about 20 different resumes that he sends out. Rewriting and editing each one to match the job opening he is applying for because he knows that they will run a keyword search on the resume to see if the correct buzzwords are present long before anyone will take the time to even bother to read it.
My favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. quote.
This has always been my favorite quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with a fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time…The ‘tide in the affairs of men’ does not remain at the floods; it ebbs…. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: Too Late.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 15, 1929—April 4, 1968
This quote reminds me, as a writer and as a human being, to not to put off that which I deem as being important in my life. It reminds me to: write, right now; to make a good choice when I have a choice; to say thank you—or, I love you—in the moment.
The Venue Menu for the 2009 Pink Party at the House of Blues!
For Immediate Release
Tray Pass Menu
House of Blues on December 3, 2009!
Crispy Catfish Nuggets with a Spicy Tarter Sauce
Creole Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Sauce
Spinach & Goat Cheese Spanikopitas
Starting around 8:00 PM, complimentary Tray Pass service will be offered to the first 150 people through the door – in other words, until we run out! Otherwise, the House of Blues’ full, signature menu will be available in the event space until midnight. Seating will be limited so order accordingly!
Now in its fourth year, The 2009 Pink Party is one of San Diego’s premiere events to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer prevention and support networks (www.pinkpartysd.com). Directly benefiting the Breast Cancer Fund (www.breastcancerfund.com), the leading national organization working solely on eliminating the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease, and The Breast Cancer Network of Strength (www.networkofstrength.org), which offers comprehensive support to those newly diagnosed, survivors, their families and loved ones, ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone.
The 2009 Pink Party will be held at the House of Blues San Diego!
Located down own, this spacious event, which normally hosts international acts, has donated the Music Hall and Delta Room for our signature Pink Party lavishness. With tickets available online for $20 in advance, $40 at the door the night of the event, we expect to sell out soon! Entertainment includes: live world music from The Sunset Lounge Company and Alicia Gatto; DJs Lea Luna, Blue Insomnia, Jacques the Ripper and Oscure; Cirque performances by Unifier, FireFly, Indirani Fusion Dance, Hoop Unit, Fire-n-Ice, MissMango from Zirk Ubu, JQ, Hoopcharmer, and The Shimmy Sisters! As always, the annual Pink Party will feature its signature high-fashion runway shows!
The 2009 Pink Party is proudly being held Thursday, December 3, 2009. Doors open at 7:30PM.
Join in with House of Blues, Aim to Simplify, Cleanology, ShindyTV, Art Rocks, Buzztime, Aflac, Diesel Salon and more at The 2009 Pink Party!
For more information and to appreciate the scope of The Pink Party, visit its website, www.pinkpartysd.com.
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Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting a 300 page manuscript, on average, takes 3 to 4 months to complete. And while the time and dedication needed to complete a book seems out of reach to most, turning into a recurring New Year’s resolution, there is hope: me! From the initial concept meetings, through development of the project, to a finished manuscript that is polished and ready for publication through a Print On Demand service, I help people fulfill their goal of getting their book written!
As an example, the fee for a 300 page, non-fiction project starts at $25,000.00.
Please contact me for a quote on your project and to check on my availability!
“I don’t fear the blank page…
It is but a canvas waiting to be painted with words, your words.”
-JB
An open secret throughout the ages, Ghostwriters have been used by executives, professionals, celebrities, politicians and kings to control their mythologies, their legacies, and secure their moments in history. They know that “writing” a book requires a level of dedication that they cannot afford to give lest they take their eye off their own tasks… They know that their time is too valuable or too limited for them to dedicate the weeks, months, and sometimes years needed for them to be able to finally get their book written…
They have known that which you now know; Ghostwriters are the enablers of the written word.
- 20% due on signing; 20% on delivery of detailed outline, 20% on delivery of first draft of a sample chapter, 25% on delivery of first draft of entire manuscript, 15% on delivery of revised manuscript.
- All required travel expenses (at the current, per-diem IRS Rates for food, hotel, mileage, and if required, airfare) will need to be pre-paid by the client prior to leaving San Diego. Travel time is billed at $45 an hour, and is due weekly on Fridays. Typically, pre-approved travel is needed for interviews and for research based on the client’s needs and/or requests.
- Open to discussing temporary relocation for duration of project, both nationally and internationally.
- Signing of a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is a standard business practice (and the occupational hazard of being a Ghostwriter).
“After everything is said and done,
it’s your name on the book!”
-JB
The Pink Party at the HOUSE OF BLUES San Diego! Get your tickets BEFORE we sell out!
In an effort to raise donations for the Breast Cancer Fund and the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, join us at The HOUSE OF BLUES San Diego on December 3, 2009!
Visit our website for complete details at WWW.PINKPARTYSD.COM
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY BEFORE IT SELLS OUT!
Last years event not only drew capacity crowds, the San Diego Fire Marshall took control of our door! In fact, the event attracted such a large turnout that those who didn’t want to stand in line for an hour filled up three neighboring bars and we almost turned it into a block party! This year, our marquee event is being held at the HOUSE OF BLUES San Diego!
Our Mission: The Pink Party is committed to supporting breast cancer research, patient and family care, to educate about environmental/biological causes and the importance of early detection. By bringing the community together to party for a cause, The Pink Party allows us to celebrate survival, empower and educate. Providing a community connection in an uplifting environment, we aim to celebrate and honor the lives of women and men whom breast cancer has touched, through music,entertainment, and the power of knowledge.
The Pink Party is an event that celebrates life in the face of this serious disease! Through our joyful approach, we focus on the lives of those touched by breast cancer and are passionate about incorporating different examples of respect, honor and empowerment into this event. Through this positive response to the breast cancer epidemic, you can help support the fight against this disease by embracing those touched by it!
Welcome to The House of Blues San Diego!
The two-floor, 1,000-person capacity Music Hall is our main venue for this years marquee event. Featuring revolutionary light and sound capabilities, this space is sure to dazzle the senses! Imagine dancing with your closest friends, cocktail in hand, to the sexy beats of our acclaimed DJ’s. Imagine connecting, laughing, dreaming, dancing and enjoying the night as only the Pink Party can do. With trademark fashion shows, cirque performances and acrobats, live bands and DJ’s this is sure to be a Pink night like no other!
Too crazy for you? Simply exit, stage left into The Delta Room! This unique space is large enough to accommodate up to 250 guests – our biggest Pink Lounge to-date! With multiple, oversized hi-def monitors you will not miss a beat as we watch a live feed from the Music Hall while enjoying the soulful, down tempo beats of the Pink Lounge!
You can buy your tickets Online for just $20 in advance!
On the day of the event, the ticket price at the door will be $40.
Entertainment!
Live Music!
Cirque Performances!
The best West Coast DJ’s!
RetroTURF; Redefining Real
So, how do you save over 30,000 gallons of water?
Discover what the best of the best is when it comes to artificial turf products such as the RetroTURF brand of synthetic grass. Long gone are the days of that cheap green stuff you use to tee up your golfball with at the driving range! At the forefront of todays artificial grass business is RetroTURF, a company dedicated to helping Southern Californians conserve water while conserving their hard earned cash.
Few things in life provide instant results, but by replacing that brown and dying lawn with a product that even Mother Nature would approve of, you’ll be amazed at how great your home will look! In about a day, the professionals at RetroTURF can install a new lawn that will have your neighbors sneaking over to check out. Watch for it! They’ll walk by a couple of times, maybe even double park and run over, look around to see if anyone is watching them just to feel it… If the folks at RetroTURF could bottle the fragrance of a freshly cut lawn, they would really be confused!
Check out the high definition photo from an actual installation. This is what the highest quality artificial turf could look like in your front yard! Allowing you to stop wasting thousands of gallons of water trying to keep your lawn from turning brown. Freeing your Sunday mornings from the choir of pulling out the lawn mower and the weekly, quiet trudging back and forth cutting, edging and trimming of what’s left of your lawn. Letting you escape from the cycle of spreading fertilizers to make it green and grow while you spraying even more chemicals to keep out the inevitable weeds.
RetroTURF is also the preferred brand of many Home Owner Associations as it reduces labor costs associated with estate maintenance, increases curb appeal for the neighborhood, and with a life expectancy of about 25 years, and a 10 year product / 2 year installation warranty, it’s an investment that will last.
Visit their website at RetroTURF.com today and rekindle the pride you had in the appearance of your home when you first became a homeowner. Not only will artificial turf increase the visual impact of your property to those driving by, it also positively impacts your properties value!
For more information, log on to www.retroturf.com
or call 800.383.6657.
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