Breaking Barriers

Video link: http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/518/

"I was lucky enough to be raised by a single mom," 
states "Growing Pains" TV Star, Jeremy Miller.

The second annual, Empowering HeArts: Celebrating Art, Women, and Community, will be "Breaking Barriers" for single mothers.  Like Miller, Gloria Locke is the product of a single mom.  "For me, breaking barriers means breaking stereotypes," states Gloria, who was destined for a life of homelessness on the streets of Detroit, when she convinced her mom to pack what they could in a station wagon with $600 - and a dog - to head for California.  She is among the 12 honorees recognized at this year's benefit exhibit.

"Empowering HeArts is me. Through SCV-Arts I reach people, especially children, breaking stereotypes regarding women of color in visual art and new media."  Gloria's essay will be dedicated to children of single mothers with compilation photography by Phil Althouse.


SMO Gala and Art Exhibit ______________________________________________
The Empowering HeArts second annual Gala and Art Exhibit will be held 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center. The event will benefit Single Mothers Outreach. Theme of this year’s event is “Breaking Barriers.” The event will honor 12 Santa Clarita Valley women whose stories will be told by writers, photographers and artists. Gala tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at www.singlemothersoutreach.org.  Info: (661) 288-0117.

SCV Latino Chamber Celebrates 1st

Yet another Santa Clarita first. The SCV Latino Chamber of Commerce celebrates its first year with VIP dinner and awards ceremony.  Find out who received the awards for New Business of the Year, Community Leader of the Year, and more....Video highlights of the gala event:
http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/522/

Santa Clarita Jazz Festival

Hats off (or on) for another successful Santa Clarita first.  Santa Clarita Jazz Festival held at Valencia Country Club video highlights:

Everett Harp
http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/520/

Rick Braun

http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/526/

Jeff Lorber
http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/532/

Diane Schuur
http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/528/

Gerald Albright
http://www.the-signal.com/multimedia/530/

Heaven is for Real

http://www.haventoday.org/rev-todd-burpo-heaven-is-for-real-s-113.html

Children haven't developed the refinement of "tact" and usually what they have to say is brutally honest.   Today I heard a radio broadcast (twice) on Haven Today, an interview with Colton's dad as he recounted the toddler's statements of his experience while undergoing an appendectomy.  What Colton saw, who he met, and what he did while in heaven - plain and simple, matter-of-fact. Thanks Colton :)

Celebrating

Father's Day weekend, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays...

Many things to celebrate and commemorate during the month of June.   Celebrating people in our lives that have helped form us into who we are today.  We take a moment to look back at where we started.  Where are we today, a year later or a lifetime later....

Milestones can serve as checkpoints on the journey.  June 2011 - commemorating a new mile... 
whether a challenge or a celebration, 
whether to continue or correct

but more than likely, all of the above. 

(...knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Rom. 5: 3-4)

Meatless Mondays on the Moooove

Entering the end-of-the-year potluck, I viewed the tables filled with all varieties of food.  Making my way over to the tables with my dish, "Gloria, please tell me it's meatless!" I was happy to reply, "yes, it is!"

I am not vegan, nor vegetarian, but wouldn't mind, at least once, twice, three times a week.  I'm not alone. Many people around the world are embracing Meatless Mondays as a lifestyle.  According to Martha Theus, author and CEO of 21st Century Vegetarians, the entire country of Belgium observes Meatless Mondays with many other communities also making the mooooove.  

Think it's just an 'eat your veggies' day? This mouth-watering, meatless Memorial Day meal may make your Mondays meatless! Click link for BBQ Chik:

http://21stcenturyvegetarians.typepad.com/21stcenturyvegetarians/2011/05/meatless-mondays-with-martha-memorial-day-special-bbq-fried-chikn.html

25 Novels...

Blogging (web log)...puts another log on the fire fueled by communication....thank you Carol for the following link...will investigate and choose one to read...what do you recommend?  http://www.onlinecollege.org/2011/06/01/25-terrific-novels-for-journalism-students/

Do Blogs Have an Agenda?

The California Journalism Awards presented by the Center for California Studies opened discussion pertaining to blogs, observing, "Do blogs have an agenda?"  It was suggested that blogs are 'more opinionated' and that, 'it's going back to it's journalism roots.'  "Everyone has an agenda,"shares David Watts Barton, editor of the Sacramento Bee, adding that everyone also wants to have a blog.

"Some blogs are tied in with a political party," stated Jon Ortiz, author of 'The State Worker' and journalist at the Sacramento Bee, "blogs push us back to engagement and that can get ugly," responding to a comment that Flash Report blogs exist to promote an agenda, further noting that some bloggers are paid to promote party platforms under the guise of the 'opinion' expressed by the blogger.  This was a point of concern for the panel.
  
Kimberly Nalder, Professor of Government at California State University Sacramento, lamented that most of the population does not think in terms of partisan and non-partisan positions and cannot distinguish between liberal and non-liberal views.  Further concern was expressed by Molly Dugan, Professor of Communication Studies at CSU Sacramento. "Opinions are entertaining. Young people want to be entertained. For the 'under 30 crowd' is not about being partisan, it's about entertainment."  The panel continued noting examples of students referencing blog statements as credible journalism sources comparable to the 'Times' and the Sacramento Bee. 

Addressing students lack of differentiation between the credibility of blogs vs. newspapers, the panel was asked if a watchdog site was needed to oversee blogs and/or whether blogs should be required to state their agenda. That discussion was quickly put to rest by Barton who simply said, "it's too complicated." 

Should bloggers have credentials? According to Barton, many professional journalists did not attend journalism school (including himself) and some go on to win Pulitzer Prizes. He emphasized that it's more of a calling than a profession and getting a degree is not a requirement. Barton was quick to mention Matt Drudge (Drudge Report) whom no one knew - nor credentialed, notwithstanding is now a leading force of information.

To be sure, blogs have an agenda in the storytelling arena - partisan or non-partisan, fact or opinion - or a bit of both.  One closing statement from the panel:  'you have to love what you're writing about. Blogging will consume you...it's not wishy-washy.' 


This storyteller concludes: Blogs are web logs placed in the fire of technology, fueled by the need to communicate.

(The panel discussion aired Sunday, May 29, 2011 on SoCal Channel 35)

Memorial Day

To build a mosque at Ground Zero, to me, is unthinkable. Today, Memorial Day 2011, we remember our troops with a day in their honor, along with civilians who paid the ultimate price. Thank you for serving our country. Land of the brave, home of the free.  May our actions match our words. I said "no" to building a mosque at Ground Zero.  It's just the right thing to do.

Check That Attitude

ATTITUDE 

  by Charles Swindell

The longer I live the more I realize the impact of

attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past,

 than education, than money,

than circumstances, than failures, than successes,

 than what other people think, say, or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.

 It will make or break a company, a church, a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice 

every day regarding the attitude 

we will embrace for that day.

 We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing that we can do 

is play on the one string we have,

 and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me,

and 90% how I react to it.

and so it is with you.

We are in charge of our attitudes.

How are Journalists Portrayed in the Media?

  
 Video Link:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAVC6oocKTk
At an insightful Q&A, I asked how journalists are perceived today with kidnappings and killings of journalists abroad. Are journalists targeted? The panel did not think that journalists were being targeted, except noting that Daniel Pearl case was high-profile due to the nature of his killing.  Mark Boal, having covered stories in Iraq and is the writer of the Oscar-winning film, "The Hurt Locker," said in the 80's  journalists "neutrality" was replaced by a perception that journalists could become a target.  On a related note: Mark and the director of "The Hurt Locker" are planning to launch a film about the hunt for bin Laden and the "war-on-terror" and now that he has been killed, the film takes on a current relevancy.


The panel's discussion primarily focused on movies and films in which reporters were "stereotyped" to a degree by Hollywood filmmakers:

WHAT:

As part of National Ethics Week and the kick-off to the SPJ Region 11 Conference, SPJ/LA and the national Ethics Committee spotlight how journalists are portrayed in the movies and on TV.

WHO:

• Joe Saltzman, professor, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism; director, Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture Project
• Mark Boal, journalist, Oscar-winning screenwriter (“The Hurt Locker”), film producer
• Jolie Mason, founder, Los Angeles Radio Reading Service

Joel Bellman, SPJ/LA board member and press deputy for Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, moderator

Governor Jerry Brown and Assemblyman Cameron Smyth: Heart to Hart

 

It was great to see Democrats and Republicans come together to hear the heartfelt concerns from community leaders, parents, teachers, and students at Hart High. 

Mayor Marsha McLean and the entire City Council came to stand with the community and Wm. S. Hart School District to say "No More Cuts to Education." 


I was encouraged to see the same concern expressed from Jerry Brown (D) and Cameron Smyth (R). They took the time to listen and discuss ideas TOGETHER working toward practical application, not as Republicans or Democrats, just as people who care. If only all of our elected officials would take note. It was a monumental day worth noting and appreciating.

MEA is all "tied" up

About 60 COC staff members toured the new Media Entertainment Arts Department and were not only impressed by the state-of-the-art facility but also noted the suit and ties worn by the department instructors. I also wanted to document this rarity "tied" to the overall upgrade of the department.

SCV-Arts & Entertainment on SCVTV Ch20 Wed 11:30pm & Thur 11am

The Perfect Storytellers talk about "Exquisite Exhibits"

Gloria Locke hosts SCV-Arts & Entertainment on SCVTV Ch20 (Click here to view)

Where Is

Where.
Location. Location. Location. "Where" is it happening.  In storytelling we establish the setting, it could be the main point of the story.  Eight inches of snow in Alaska is not a big story, but it is in Santa Clarita. 

This morning the first headline I read was Katie Couric leaving her anchor post where she "solely manned the helm" of the CBS Evening News for five years.  It becomes apparent that "where" is making headlines, even for those who have "arrived"...and in her case, not only arrived but "reached the top."

"Where is.... we all want to fill in the blank.

I remember Nemo. He faced many challenges from every direction since the day he was born...and he just wanted to get to "where" his Dad was, where he knew he belonged.  I can only chuckle as I'm reminded of that famous Star(fish) in the story who said, "Find a happy place, find a happy place, FIND A HAPPY PLACE."

"This is a page from my journal, the Journey in Journalism" (hahaha - had to do it;)

Who Is

Who.
"Who" is one of the most important parts of storytelling.  "Who" is the story about. And "Who" is the story intended to reach.
 
Art and Journalism:   Let me capture the essence of the person and paint a picture in the freshness of the moment.  A picture in words. A picture in a photo.  Which,  documents 'who' the person is, yes, but ultimately validates the soul 'who' is trying to communicate their story. 

...and finally 'who' is going to listen. 

What is

Question:  Is there a connection between art and news?  They are the perfect storytellers. Since the beginning, man has attempted to communicate through art on cave walls...through newspapers, radio, television...and now through email and IPods (Stephen Coleman, paraphrased)  We're putting another log on the fire.

Interview with LA's premiere photographer, Stephen Coleman

Stephen Coleman is hailed as the premiere photographer of Los Angeles landmarks.  The City of Los Angeles welcomes visitors from all over the world by touring Coleman's "Windows Collection" at L.A. City Hall Mayor's offices.  He recently photographed Santa Clarita's skyline at sunset.   We are now "on the map" of L.A.'s scenic locations.

My first post!

Interviewing Oscar Winner, Colleen Atwood, Best Costume Design "Alice in Wonderland."  I'm so happy that she won!  Somehow I knew Johnny Depp's costume would win because it is a work of art. Detail worth seeing up close!

Interviewing Oscar-Nominated Costume Designer, Mary Zophres, "True Grit." Mary shared a profound statement: "Nobody had to look sexy in 'True Grit.'"  That was paramount to me (no pun intended).  Actually the more I thought about it, none of the Oscar-nominated costumes had to be sexy!  Hurray for Hollywood.

Interviewing Costume Designers at "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Designs" Exhibit (FIDM)

Better get this right since I'm here with ABC7 Reporter, Adrienne Alpert!

Solo Shooter.  That's me! (...okay Stephen takes the stills:) People ask me if I have to do it all..."one-man band"  YES! Would an artist have it any other way?