CMH Global Arts After School

30 Apr

Fun memories from the #CMH and #EarlyLingo thanksgiving #workshop last November. Gearing up for another Early Lingo workshop this summer! #arts #education #globalcitizen #childrenmendinghearts

Final Exhibit at #AfterSchoolAllStars Mulholland Middle School site last fall 2012. Such amazing work showcased by the CMH Global Arts After School students! We are excited to see the #finalexhibit for the spring 2013 semester happening in the coming weeks! Stay tuned for details! #arts #education #cmh #childrenmendinghearts #photography #showcase #globalcitizen

15 Apr

VOTE TODAY! Help CMH win the Goldhirsh LA2050 Challenge and fund our program! We need your help, friends… spread the word and get those votes in! THANK YOU!

http://myla2050.maker.good.is/projects/kidshelpingkids

18 Mar

CMH Featured in the After School All Stars Monthly eNewsletter!

28 Feb

CMH Proudly Hosts Kirk Smalley Of “The Bully Project” For An Evening Of Awareness, Inspiring Change, Taking A Stand

If you haven’t viewed the documentary film “BULLY” or been swept up by the anti-bullying movement that it sparked and is now sweeping the nation, then it is time to be moved and motivated. The documentary, directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, has inspired The Bully Project, a social action campaign to end bullying. This national movement to stop bullying is “transforming kids’ lives and changing a culture of bullying into one of empathy and action.”

On February 20^th, 2013 Lysa Heslov, founder of Children Mending Hearts, hosted a Bully Project Awareness Evening. She invited Kirk Smalley to her home in Los Angeles, CA to speak to an intimate gathering of parents, students, friends and supporters. Kirk, along with his wife Laura, are featured in the documentary film “BULLY” sharing the story of their son Ty, who took is own life at eleven years old after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully that had been bullying him for over two years.

Kirk now spends his time speaking out for a cause that is very dear to his heart: he is fighting to end bullying worldwide. He travels to schools, conferences, gatherings, and events of all kinds speaking about the cause and furthering the movement to end bullying in memory of his son Ty. Kirk has talked to over 100,000 students in more than 100 schools. He has counseled with the President and First Lady, the U.S. Dept. of Education, the U.S. Dept. of Justice and numerous other organizations. He was invited to speak at the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention and has multiple state and federal level engagements currently scheduled.

Kirk represents the organization Stand For The Silent (SFTS). He says he will continue to battle against the harassment that plagues so many of America’s youth to ensure there is an end to bullying. SFTS was started in 2010 by a group of students from the Oklahoma State University after they heard the tragic story of Ty Field-Smalley. STFS exists as a platform for Kirk and Laura to share their story and offer education and tools that will prevent their tragedy from happening to another child and family. Kirk and Laura’s mission is to continue to change kids’ lives and bring awareness to bullying and the real devastation it causes.

Everyone in attendance at the January 20^th event in Los Angeles was so moved by the cause and Kirk’s instinctive and genuinely heartfelt words that they were standing with him at the end taking the pledge to be part of the movement and end bullying. They pledged to respect those around them, lend a helping hand to those in need, and not spread hatred, but rather encourage solidarity amongst all human beings. Kirk inspired everyone to start with themselves and be the example for those around them.

That evening, Kirk encouraged all to become active supporters of The Bully Project with his inspirational and heartbreaking story. The campaign’s goal is to reach 1 million kids or more by spreading the message and starting the anti-bullying discussion in classrooms around the nation. The Bully Project aims to disperse tool kits for educators, which include the BULLY DVD and a curriculum and teacher’s guide to discuss the subject with students and foster action. With these important education tools in schools everywhere it will encourage awareness and focus on developing empathy and taking action to make a change.

At CMH we are proud to stand with Kirk and the movement, as our mission is to create empathy and compassion in today’s youth, helping to end bullying, and creating a space where all our children respect one another, connect with each other, and can co-exist as one. The importance and relevance of this cause is apparent every time Kirk speaks or BULLY is viewed and audiences are brought to tears and stirred to become part of the movement–standing up to end bullying. The event in Los Angeles last month was covered by KTLA news and showed a community touched by Kirk’s story and stimulated and moved to advocate for this important cause. Now it’s your turn to get involved; learn more about the cause; be part of the change for a better world.

To learn more and get involved: www.thebullyproject.com

To learn more about Kirk Smalley and SFTS: www.standforthesilent.org

Also, visit the CNN Topics Page on BULLYING to stay up to date on the movement in the news: topics.cnn.com/topics/bullying

25 Feb

Last November CMH was lucky enough to be part of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships 2012 at Santa Anita Park. It was an amazing experience that we were honored to be part of!! See the video recap of the BC12…

11 Jan

CMH Partner Spotlight: Melody Amy Minagar Fashion Designer “PROVERBiAL COUTURE”, CMH T-shirt Designer

CMH Partner Spotlight: Melody Amy Minagar

Fashion Designer “PROVERBiAL COUTURE”, CMH T-shirt Designer

Last fall, Children Mending Hearts (CMH) was lucky to be introduced to a very talented designer and artist who has as much passion about giving back as she does about her fashion label. Melody Amy Minegar, a fashion designer and owner of the label PROVERBiAL COUTURE, donated her talent and original artwork to help CMH create incredible t-shirt designs representing the organization’s 2012 partnership with the internationally renowned Breeders’ Cup World Championships horse race. CMH’s association with the Breeders Cup 2012 at Santa Anita Park was an incredible opportunity for CMH to receive recognition on an international level and share our mission. The t-shirts that Melody designed for CMH were not only selling out on-site at the weekend event but were also available to buy online. It was an amazing event and unparalleled exposure for all involved. CMH is thrilled to have collaborated with such a generous and skilled designer and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for her young apparel line that is already offering fabulous fashion must-haves. See below for CMH’s brief Q&A with Melody discussing her passion for fashion, charity, and starting her own design label. We are so excited to work with Melody on future CMH design projects as well!

CMH: Why did you want to become a fashion designer?

MAM: I became a fashion designer because I was an artist who best expressed my creativity through fabric. Clothing and designing were always productive outlets for me growing up.

CMH: What are you inspired by on the creative side of the business?

MAM: I am most inspired by abstract and expressionist works of art, old Hollywood and music of various genres from around the world.

CMH: Are there any teachers, classes, educational experiences from your past that you felt were influential in encouraging you to pursue a career in fashion design?

MAM: Every class that did not involve creativity encouraged me to find outlets and a career path to express it instead. I always knew I was drawn to subjects and activities that let me express myself creatively, so I guess it was a natural path that I eventually found my passion in fashion design.

CMH: Where did the name PROVERBiAL COUTURE come from?

MAM: Proverbial Couture came from my love of words and metaphorical sayings, but I believe there are so many interpretations. I want Proverbial to be known for positive action. So when the name came to me it seemed appropriate as the label to represent the clothes I create and what I want the style to express.

CMH: How has the journey been so far starting your own apparel line and what are some of the challenges you have faced?

MAM: Starting any business from the ground up is difficult, especially at 21 years old. I am fortunate to have mentors and support in all aspects from business to the fashion industry. Like anything else, I learn as I go, make my own moves and follow my heart in hopes of reaching my goals and making my dreams come true.

CMH: Why is giving back and making charity part of your business so important to you?

MAM: I know my involvement in Children Mending Hearts improves the lives of countless children, gives them what they can’t give themselves and encourages them to give to others. It’s important for a child to be given food and shelter, just as it’s important for a child to be given love, guidance, the opportunity to learn, freedom to dream, and the tools to set and accomplish goals in their future. I don’t want to simply exist in the world I want to take action in improving it.

SEE MORE: www.pvbcouture.com

FOLLOW MELODY & PVB COUTURE:

Twitter: @pvbcouture @persianmelody

3 Jan

CMH Global Arts After School Final Exhibit FALL 2012: After School All Stars — Mulholland Middle School

CMH Global Arts After School is dedicated to providing arts and education programs that build empathy and global citizenry. In the fall of 2012 the After School All Stars students began their photography exchange with children at an orphanage in Haiti.

For the past 9 weeks the After School All Stars students have learned about life in Haiti, as well as principles of digital photography.

Throughout the program our students brainstormed on creative ways they could reach out to their Haitian photography partners. Ultimately our students created an incredible final photography project. Each child painted their face with a different color from the Haitian Flag and took both individual portraits of each other as well as a group portrait of their faces forming the flag of Haiti. These amazing students didn’t stop there. They also wrote friendship letters in Haitian Creole to be sent to the students in Haiti.

Children Mending Hearts mailed the photographs from After School All Stars, along with digital cameras to Haiti, where a group of children living in an Orphanage in Les Cayes received them. A photography workshop facilitated by CMH was conducted and the Haitian students replied with their own original photographs.

The CMH Global Arts Photography Exchange and Final Exhibit featured both “Lifestyle Photographs” by the After School All Stars students and our Haitian Photography partners from Les Cayes, Haiti.

Take a look at the final exhibit that showcased all the work from the semester and the photographs from the students at the orphanage in Haiti. After School All Stars students’ families were also invited to attend the final exhibit showing and end of program party. CMH is so proud of our students and incredible creativity and world perspective they showcased in their work. Congratulations to our Global Citizens!

17 Dec

CMH Global Arts After School Final Exhibit FALL 2012: Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club

Los Angeles, CA — December 11, 2012

CMH Global Arts After School wrapped up our second semester program (pilot semester was Spring 2012; mini program Summer 2012) at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club. The afternoon featured our accomplished global citizens with the end of program final exhibit showcasing the talented students’ best work, highlighting the photo exchange with our Haiti partners, and celebrating all their hard work with a pizza reception and gallery viewing for friends and family. We could not be more proud of the amazing work the students created this semester and are inspired by their development as artists and global citizens connecting to the world through their creative expression. We are thrilled with the progress of the program and love that we get to share the growth of the classes and students with all of you! This semester the CMH Global Arts After School program also expanded to two new sites partnering up with After School All Stars… check in soon to see a recap on that final exhibit and the new ideas our wonderful Global Arts After School Partners continue to bring to the table!